George  Washington  Flowers 
Memorial  Collection 

DUKE  UNIVERSITY  LIBRARY 


ESTABLISHED  BY  THE 
FAMILY  OF 

COLONEL  FLOWERS 


Digitized  by  the  Internet  Archive 
in  2015 


https://archive.org/details/mementooldnewnat01powe 


THE  MEMENTO 

l/l . ,/  ; 

- i. 

Old  and  New  Natchez 

i 700  to  1 897. 

ILLUSTRATED. 


PUBLISHED  BY 


MAJOR  STEVE  POWER. 


A Resident  of  Natchez  Fifty-odd  Years.  A Veteran  of  the  Mexican  and  Civil  Wars. 


NATCHEZ,  MISSISSIPPI. 


Louisville,  Ky.: 

F.  C.  Nunemacher  Press, 
1897. 


S 1 7,  4 

P ss  7m 


TO  MY  FRIENDS 


And  those  ladies  and  gentlemen  who  have  rendered 
me  valued  aid ; and  the  solid  merchants 
who  have  come  to  my  assistance 
in  this  undertaking, 


“THE  MEMENTO” 


is  respectfully  dedicated  by 

STEPHEN  F POWER , 

Compiler. 


TABLE  OF  CONTENTS 


CONTRIBUTED  ARTICLES. 

PAGE 

Natchez  Under  the  Old  Regime  .....  . . 7-14 

Natchez — 1797  ..........  17-18 

Natchez  in  the  Thirties  .........  21 

A Reminiscence  of  the  Fifties  ........  23-24 

Our  Parks  ...........  25-26 

Natchez — Its  Past,  Present  and  Future  ......  29-33 

The  Queen  City  of  the  South  ........  37-48 

Memorial  Day,  April  30,  1889  ........  51-56 

Extracts  from  Memorial  Souvenir.  Adams  Light  Infantry,  April,  1890  . . 58-59 

Natchez — 1895  ..........  61-62 

Down  in  Dixie  ..........  63-66 

Extracts  from  the  Natchez  Democrat  ......  67-71 

Natchez,  1896 — Its  Many  Advantages  .......  73-83 

MISCELLANEOUS  ARTICLES. 

Cedar  Grove  ...........  83 

Hot  Springs  ..........  84 

Jefferson  College  ..........  85 

Quegles’  Home  ..........  87 

Britton  & Koontz,  Bankers  .......  .87 

The  Natchez  Fencibles  .........  88-89 

Fencibles’  Banner  Song  .........  89 

The  Adams  Light  Guard  ........  90-93 

Her  Bright  Smile  Haunts  Me  Still  ’ ' ......  93-94 

A Large  Salary  . . . . . . . 94 

Steamers  on  the  Mississippi  River  ........  94 

Scraps  of  Natchez  History  .......  96 

Capt.  Thomas  Leathers  . . . . . . .97 

A Letter  to  a Son  . . . . . . . . . 98 

ILLUSTRATIONS. 

“ A Son  of  Natchez,”  1729  ........  Frontispiece 

Melrose  ...........  6 

Elmscourt  ...........  7 

View  from  the  Bluffs — Vidalia  in  the  Distance  .....  12 

Concord,  the  Residence  of  the  Spanish  Governors,  Lemos  and  Minor,  bought  by 

Dr.  Stephen  Kelly,  of  New  York  City  ......  15 

Driveway  to  Arlington  .........  15 

Montebello  ...........  16 

“Gloster,”  Residence  of  Hon.  Winthrop  Sargent,  First  Governor  of  Mississippi, 

1798,  Natchez,  Miss.  ........  19 

Hall  at  Arlington  . . . . . . . . .19 

Monmouth  ..........  20 

Stanton  ...........  20 

Dunleith  ...........  22 

The  Briars  ...........  24 

View  of  North  Commerce  Street  .......  27 

View  of  Franklin  Street  .........  27 

Natchez  Postoffice — In  the  Old  Commercial  Bank  Building  ....  28 

Main  Street — looking  south  ........  28 

North  Side  of  Main  Street — looking  west  ......  34 

The  First  Natchez  Bank — In  the  Old  Agricultural  Building  . . .34 

Negro  Baptism  at  Natchez  ........  49 

Natchez  Under  the  Hill  .........  49 

Memorial  Park  ..........  50 

Bluff  City  R.  R. — The  Giant  Enterprise  of  Rumble  & Wensel  Co.  . . .50 

The  Old  Residence  of  the  Minors  .......  60 

Stanton  College  ..........  60 

Residence  of  Sargent  S.  Prentiss  .......  72 

Grave  of  Sargent  S.  Prentiss  ........  72 

Cedar  Grove  ..........  82 

Quegles’  Home  ..........  86 

Ravenna  . . , . . . . . . . 92 

Llangollen,  Residence  of  T.  O.  Baker  ....  95 

Residence  of  Christian  Schwartz  .......  99 


TABLE  OF  CONTENTS— Continued. 


INDEX  TO  ADVERTISERS. 


Pittsburgh  Coal  Co.  (James  O’Brien,  Agent) 

Luxfer  Prism  Co.  (N.  Y.  City)  . 

Dixon  Brothers  (Wall  Paper,  etc.) 

Dixon  Brothers  & Co.  (Stained  and  Ornamental  Glass) 
Interchangeable  Brake  Beam  Co. 

C.  H.  McKibbin  & Co.  (N.  Y.  City — Railway,  Steamship 
The  Natchez  Hotel 
The  Natchez  Democrat  . 

Rumble  & Wensel  Co.  (Commission  Merchants) 

Henry  Frank  (Dry  Goods) 

R.  I.  Metcalfe  (Insurance)  . 

L.  D.  Simmons  (Photographic  Artist)  . 

W.  H.  Shields  (Real  Estate) 

New  Orleans  & Northwestern  Railway  Co. 

The  W.  J.  Hogan  Co.  (Dry  Goods) 

Natchez  Savings  Bank 
Britton  & Koontz  Bank 
Burns’  Shoe  Store 

Turley  & Parker  (Livery  and  Sale  Stable  i 
John  Rawle  (Insurance,  Etc.)  . 

Jefferson  Military  College 
The  E.  G.  De  Lap  Co.  ( Insurance  ) 

Natchez,  Red  River  & Texas  R.  R. 

Cole  & Co.  (Dry  Goods). 

Natchez  Tailoring  Co. 

John  Harper  (House  Furnishing  Goods) 

H.  C.  Norman  (Photographer) 

A.  Beer  & Company  (Grocers)  . 

M.  M.  Ullman  & Co.  (Clothiers) 

Natchez  Piano  and  Furniture  Co. 

L.  D.  Aldrich,  estate  of  (Cutlery) 

J.  N.  Ratliff  (Transfer  Line) 

Simon  Mayer  (Insurance) 

J.  L.  Young  & Co.  (Drugs  and  Stationery 
Salvo  & Berdon  Candy  Co.  . 

John  E.  Rouse  (Wines  and  Liquors) 

John  Noonan  (Baker) 

Excelsior  Steam  Laundry 

I.  N.  Moses  (Carriages,  etc.) 

P.  W.  Mulvihill  (Hardware) 

P.  U.  Benjamin  (Wines  and  Liquors) 

M.  G.  Ducrow  (Decorator) 

Jos.  Reale  (Groceries) 

Byrnes  & Feltus  (Druggists) 

N.  A.  Behrens  (Fruits) 

Stockman  Grocery  Co. 

Mack  & Holmes  (Tin  and  Sheet  Iron  Workers 
U.  S.  Mail  Packet  Liberty  Prince 
I.  Lowenburg  & Co.  (Grocers) 

L.  Kastor  (Harness) 

Louis  A.  Fitzpatrick  (Gunmaker  and  Locksmith 
E.  A.  Brown  (Livery  and  Sale  Stable)  . 

Baker  & McDowell  (Hardware) 

Marx  & Scharff  (Liquors) 

First  Natchez  Bank  . 

James  A.  Grillo  (Newsdealer) 

A.  Zurhellen  (Jeweler) 

Baker  & James  (Hardware) 

Beer,  Myers  & Co.  (Liquors) 

Martin  & Lanneau  ( Attorneys) 

Richard  E.  Conner,  Sr.  (Attorney) 

A.  H.  Geisenberger  (Attorney)  . 

Ernest  E.  Brown  (Attorney) 

Bernheim  Brothers  (Whiskies)  . 

Benoist’s  Clothing  House 


Second  Page  Cover 
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Melrose. 


Elmscourt. 


BEAUTIFUL  in  situation,  self-sustaining  in  its  industries,  exclusive  alike 
in  its  business  interests  and  its  social  circles,  stood  the  city  of  Natchez,  in 
ante-bellum  days.  Possibly  no  place  of  corresponding  size  offered  less  attraction 
to  the  passing  traveler.  In  its  individuality  and  its  independence  it  was  unique. 
To  the  student  of  American  history,  however,  the  claims  of  this  quiet  town 
were  well  defined.  Among  the  verj^  earliest  permanent  settlements  made  by 
the  indefatigable  D’Iberville  and  his  followers,  the  historical  record  stretches 
back  to  1700,  when  the  Chevalier  du  Ponty  founded  this  City  of  the  Bluffs, 
located  on  the  bank  of  the  Mississippi  River,  three  hundred  miles  above 
New  Orleans.  Then  ensued  years  of  hardship  and  fierce  conflict  with  the 
vigorous,  well-equipped  Natchez  tribe  of  Indians. 

In  the  year  1729  a frightful  massacre  occurred,  in  which  no  less  than  seven 
hundred  of  these  brave  adventurers  lost  their  lives,  only  a few  escaping  to 
New  Orleans  to  tell  the  direful  tale. 

The  ruins  of  the  old  Fort  Rosalie  still  stand  to  attest  the  truth  of  the  many 
traditions  which  linger  around  those  early  days.  As  time  rolled  on  this  fair 
portion  of  the  country  was  occupied  alternately  by  the  French  and  Spanish 
governments,  the  lines  of  the  vast  newly-acquired  territory  being  indefinitely 
drawn  for  a long  period.  It  was  not  until  about  1765  that  this  locality  began 
to  develop  special  points  of  interest  and  to  assume  a distinctive  social  and  ethi- 
cal character  which  distinguished  it  in  a marked  degree  until  the  Civil  War,  and 
of  which  the  sequence  of  change  and  misfortune  cannot  wholly  deprive  it, 
even  now.  Near  that  date,  many  persons  from  the  English  colonies  on  the  At- 
lantic coast  foreseeing  and  fearing  the  consequences  of  the  contest  for  independ- 
ence, which  had  even  then  begun  to  assume  threatening  proportions  sought 
and  found  homes  in  the  comparatively  untried  West.  Small  colonies  were 
founded  and  pioneer  settlements  were  made  on  the  Tombigbee  and  Mississippi 
Rivers.  For  many  miles,  stretching  from  Vicksburg  to  Bayou  Sara,  lies  the 
hill  country  of  the  great  Mississippi.  These  hills  are  peculiar.  They  have 
heen  thrown  upon  the  primitive  formation  by  some  convulsion  of  nature,  and 


8 


THE  MEMENTO 


extend  ten  or  fifteen  miles  into  the  interior.  They  consist  of  a rich,  marl}'  loam, 
and  when  not  cultivated,  are  clothed  to  their  summits  with  the  “ dense  wild 
cane,  forests  of  magnolia  and  black  walnut,  immense  oaks  and  the  tulip  tree, 
with  gigantic  vines  of  the  wild  grape  climbing  to  the  very  tops  of  these  forest 
monarchs.”  That  weird  parasite,  the  soft  gray  moss,  peculiar  to  the  South- 
ern states,  here  abounds;  not  growing  from,  or  clinging  to,  but  simply  hanging 
upon  the  huge  branches  of  every  variety  of  tree.  It  has  no  root  or  beginning, 
and  no  perceptible  end;  it  evinces  no  process  of  growth,  but  surely,  silently 
weaves,  decade  after  decade,  its  strange  fabric  and  enlists  the  gentle  night- 
wind  to  arrange  its  graceful  festoons  with  no  apparent  care  or  design.  Yet 
these  masses  attain  such  quantity  that  the  giant  oak  is  enveloped,  and  such 
strength  that  the  seemingly  frail  draperies  defy  the  storm.  There  is  no  vegeta- 
ble production  more  curious  and  interesting  than  this  Spanish  moss.  During 
the  summer  when  ‘ ‘ all  the  trees  on  all  the  hills  open  their  thousand  leaves,  ’ ’ 
in  some  mysterious  manner  the  gray  moss  becomes  unobtrusive.  It  does  not 
disappear,  but  permits  the  glories  of  the  season  to  overshadow  it  and  hide  it 
beneath  the  robes  of  green  velvet  and  satin  which  flaunt  their  graceful  garniture 
to  the  sun;  but  when  arrogant  nature  is  in  the  sere  and  yellow  leaf  then  does 
this  wondrous  foundling  resume  its  place,  quietly  spreads  its  invulnerable  gar- 
ment and  becomes  truly  la  parne  d'  hiver. 

To  this  beautiful  region  came,  in  the  early  history  of  the  country,  men  of 
education  and  high  social  standing  in  their  several  communities.  Generous 
grants  of  land  were  obtained  with  but  little  difficulty,  from  the  Spanish  gov- 
ernment, and  here  among  salubrious  hills  and  glorious  wood  the  emigrants  fixed 
their  homes  and  dwelt  in  full  content.  The  first  settlers  of  New  Orleans  were 
of  the  nobility  and  gentry  of  France,  and  intercourse  with  this  city,  and  the 
education  of  the  youth  of  both  sexes  in  the  schools  of  New  Orleans,  carried 
the  polish  of  the  French  manners  into  the  Natchez  colony.  This  association 
resulted  in  marriages,  and  under  these  influences  was  formed  the  Anglo-Norman 
population  of  the  Natchez  Hills,  so  long  and  justly  renowned  for  refinement, 
culture  and  elegant  modes  of  life. 

In  time,  talent  and  energy  were  attracted  thither  from  Europe  and  from 
every  section  of  the  United  States.  The  abounding  resources  were  thus- 
developed  and  large  fortunes  were  rapidly  made. 

The  country  was  vast  and  fertile,  and  the  Mississippi  river  flowing  by 
their  homes  was  sublimely  grand,  and  seemed  to  inspire  ideas  and  aspirations 
commensurate  with  its  own  majesty  in  the  people  along  its  borders. 

The  Spring  of  1895  will  hold  in  its  calendar  the  thirtieth  anniversary  of 
the  surrender  at  Appomattox — that  day  the  record  of  the  Old  South  was  closed;, 
the  seal  was  forever  set  upon  the  past  life.  There  is  a New  South  now.  Will 
it  be  deemed  unfitting  if  memory  essays  to  lift,  for  a brief  moment,  the  curtain 
and  look  again  upon  the  picture  of  the  life  that  is  passed;  of  those  stately 
historic  homes;  of  the  high-born  men  and  women  who  represented  those  homes- 
and  lived  that  life  in  Natchez  before  the  war?  The  very  name  of  this  garden 
spot  of  the  South  is  peculiar  to  itself.  While  with  the  rapidly  growing  towns 
of  the  New  World,  the  cities  of  the  Old  World  have  been  taxed  to  lend  their 
classic  names  to  ennoble  miniature  representatives,  it  is  rather  a remarkable  fact 
that  there  exists  no  duplicate  Natchez  of  greater  or  less  degree. 

The  city  proper  never  claimed  more  than  twelve  thousand  inhabitants.  It 
has  well-built  churches,  excellent  schools,  good  stores  sustained  by  merchants- 
of  leputation,  but  the  wealth,  the  beauty,  the  elegance  of  living  was  in  the 
homesteads  scattered  on  every  side  in  the  vicinity  within  a radius  of  three 
miles.  Few  cities  of  the  South  could  claim  such  an  environment  of  really 
stately  historic  homes  as  Natchez.  The  residence  of  the  first  Spanish  Governor, 
Grand  Pre,  by  name,  is  situated  in  the  center  of  extensive  grounds  which  were 
for  many  years  kept  in  highest  cultivation.  It  is  a massive  building.  Circular 


OLD  AND  NEW  NATCHEZ. 


9 


flights  of  stone  steps  lead  up  to  the  broad  halls.  These  steps,  together  wiih 
the  mantels  and  cornices  of  fine  marble,  were  hewn  in  some  “forgotten  quarry 
of  Spain,’’  and  in  conjunction  with  the  long  colonnades  stretching  on  every  side 
verify  the  wealth  and  resources  of  that  early  time.  The  house,  very  much  as 
it  stands  now,  was  erected  in  1789.  Governor  Grand  Pre  was  succeeded  by 
Gayoso,  who  gave  the  place  the  name  it  still  bears,  “ Concord,”  to  accentuate 
the  kindly  feeling  supposed  to  exist  between  the  citizens  and  the  govern- 
ment. 

Important  business  transactions  occurred  during  his  term,  which  not  prov- 
ing entirely  satisfactory  to  the  higher  authorities,  the  urbane  Gayoso  was 
recalled  to  New  Orleans  and  Don  Estavan  Minor  was  appointed.  He  purchased 
the  mansion  and  resided  there  until  his  death,  in  1815.  His  family  and  their 
descendants  occupied  it  for  many  years,  making  it  the  center  of  social  refine- 
ment and  culture.  A branch  of  the  Minors  still  live  near  Natchez,  at  a sweet, 
quiet  home  called  “Oakland  ” famous  for  its  avenue  of  live  oak  trees,  standing 
at  a distance  of  sixty  feet  apart,  whose  magnificent  branches,  meeting,  form 
a complete  archway. 

Miss  Katherine  Minor,  who.  represented  her  adopted  State,  Louisiana,  as 
one  of  the  vice-presidents  of  the  Woman’s  Columbian  Association,  was  born 
and  reared  at  “Concord.  ” It  is  entirely  probable  that  this  w7as  the  first  fine  resi- 
dence built  in  the  State  of  Mississippi.  Three  years  later,.  1792,  a home  ot 
great  architectural  beauty  and  commanding  proportions  was  erected  by  Sir 
William  Dunbar,  son  of  Sir  Archibald  Dunbar,  of  Elgin,  Scotland.  This 
republican  aristocrat  was  a man  of  extensive  scientific  attainments,  a devout 
astronomer,  whose  contributions  to  science  are  set  forth  at  large  in  many  bio- 
graphical encyclopedias.  He  also  possessed  much  executive  ability,  and  from 
his  knowledge  of  law  rendered  important  service  in  adjusting  unsettled  Span- 
ish claims,  and  realized  a large  fortune  in  comparatively  few  years.  He  married 
the  daughter  of  an  English  gentleman,  who,  like  himself,  had  cast  his  lot  with 
the  New  World.  The  home  of  Sir  William  Dunbar  was  called  “The  Forest,” 
the  many  acres  of  his  estate  representing  at  that  early  date  literally  the  “forest 
primeval.  ” It  is  a matter  for  regret  that  no  sketch  exists  of  the  lordly  Dunbar 
mansion,  with  the  long  carriage  sweep,  imposing  entrance  and  broad,  inviting 
verandas. 

Here  this  gentleman  of  taste  and  education  spent  the  remainder  of  his  days 
in  elegant,  dignified  leisure.  A large  family  of  sons  and  daughters  grew  up 
around  him,  most  of  whom  became  prominent  factors  in  the  society  in  which 
they  dwelt.  His  eldest  son,  w7ho  inherited,  after  the  manner  of  old  England, 
his  father’s  name  and  homestead,  was  a worthy  successor.  This  cherished  home, 
which  had  been  the  abode  of  so  much  happiness  and  hospitality  was  destroyed 
by  fire,  January,  1856,  and  was  never  rebuilt,  though  the  property  is  yet  owned 
by  members  of  the  family.  A granddaughter  of  old  Sir  William  nowr  resides 
at  ‘ 1 The  Forest.  ’ ’ She  is  a woman  of  rare  beauty  and  social  grace,  and  is 
surrounded,  as  in  earlier  days,  by  faithful  servants,  whose  ancestors  wrere  con- 
temporaneous with  her  own,  and  who  since  their  emancipation  have  but 
exchanged  their  bondage  of  acknowledged  servitude  for  the  closer  fetters  of 
loyal,  loving,  service. 

“Gloster,”  the  home  of  the  first  Governor  of  the  State  of  Mississippi, 
Winthrop  Sargent,  is  well  entitled  to  mention.  After  the  death  of  Governor 
Sargent,  it  became  the  property  of  George  Sargent,  a planter  of  wealth  and 
influence,  w7hose  tragic  end  will  long  be  sorrowfully7  remembered.  During  the 
occupancy  of  Natchez  by  the  Federal  forces,  he  was  called  to  his  front  door  one 
night  by  the  ring  of  the  bell,  and  was  instantly  shot  through  the  heart  by  one 
of  two  soldiers  who  confronted  him.  The  cause  was  never  known  and  the 
murderer  made  his  escape,  amid  the  excitement  and  confusion  incident  to  the 
scene.  “Gloster  ’ ’ is  not  occupied  now  and  has  become  a part  of  the  large  poses- 


IO 


THE  MEMENTO 


sions  of  Mr.  James  Surget,  the  only  male  descendant  of  a rich  and  influential 
family  of  French  descent,  who  were  among  the  early  settlers  of  Natchez. 

Two  brothers,  Frank  and  James  Surget,  built  up  by  intelligence  and 
industry,  colossal  fortunes,  and  their  sons  and  daughters  occupied  many  of  the 
handsomest  residences  in  this  vicinity.  James  Surget,  Jr.,  still  lives  at  the 
original  homestead,  “Cherry  Grove.” 

The  eldest  son  of  Captain  Frank  Surget  married,  somewhere  in  the  forties, 
Miss  Linton,  the  owner  of  one  of  the  most  imposing  of  these  ancestral  homes, 
“Clifton,”  situated  just  on  the  outskirts  of  town,  overlooking  the  majestic 
river,  two  hundred  feet  below. 

During  the  war,  after  the  fall  of  Vicksburg,  when  Natchez  was  under 
military  rule,  Mr.  Surget  received  a peremptory  order  to  vacate  his  premises  on 
twenty-four  hours’  notice.  Remonstrance  proved  unavailing.  Nowhere  else 
on  that  long  stretch  of  cliffs  above  the  mighty  river,  could  be  found  just  the 
spot  to  erect  the  fortification  necessary  to  protect  the  surrendered  city. 

So  “Clifton”  was  demolished;  literally  razed  to  the  ground.  The  family 
silver  was  all  that  was  secured  from  the  accumulated  treasures  of  years.  The 
splendid  house,  the  grand  old  trees,  the  sunny  gardens,  were  swept  away,  and 
a bleak  and  barren  hill  represented  for  a long  while  the  site  of  this  Southern 
home.  As  soon  as  peace  was  declared  the  family  left  the  United  States  and 
settled  in  the  south  of  France  never  to  return  to  this  country.  The  blow  was 
too  great.  Mr.  Surget  did  not  know  why  he  was  the  victim  of  such  unsparing 
severity,  but  the  rumor  was  that  in  inviting  some  of  the  leading  officers  of  the 
Union  army  to  dinner,  he  had  omitted  to  include  the  engineer.  In  referring  to  it 
he  once  said,  “It  was  assuredly  not  an  intentional  affront.  I would  have  asked 
the  devil  himself  to  dinner  if  it  would  have  saved  Clifton.” 

“Monmouth,”  the  home  of  that  noble  gentleman  and  valiant  soldier, 
Gen.  John  A.  Quitman,  was  worthy  of  its  distinguished  occupant.  More  need 
not  be  said.  Standing  on  the  summit  of  a gentle  acclivity,  the  long,  smooth- 
shaven  lawn  with  its  wealth  of  shade  trees  on  either  side,  renders  the  approach  to 
the  fine  old  house,  with  its  strong  thick  walls,  massive  pillars,  and  its  broad  halls, 
particularly  pleasing.  Within  these  walls  is  the  well-appointed  library  of  the  sol- 
dier-scholar just  as  he  left  it  more  than  forty  years  ago.  It  seems  incredible  that 
four  decades  of  mutation  have  left  this  sanctum  sanctorum  intact.  On  the  table, 
lying  open  as  if  for  correction,  are  papers  rich  in  authentic  detail  of  the  cause, 
progress  and  result  of  the  Mexican  war,  in  which  the  owner  of  Monmouth 
played  such  a prominent  role.  These,  and  other  documents  of  similar  interest, 
should  find  an  honorable  security  among  the  archives  of  the  State  of  Missis- 
sippi. Their  value  is  great,  and  apparently  as  yet  unrecognized,  except  as 
sacred  to  the  beloved  husband  and  father.  The  crowded  shelves  of  this  treas- 
ure house  contain  many  carefully  selected  volumes  on  science,  literature  and 
art,  and  the  very  atmosphere  is  redolent  of  scholarly  attainment.  “Monmouth” 
is  yet  owned  by  the  immediate  descendants  of  General  Quitman. 

The  property  of  Dr.  Stephen  Duncan  is  one  of  the  best  known  representa- 
tives of  the  system  of  Southern  life  at  that  period,  when  leisure  induced  culture 
and  high-bred  hospitality. 

Dr.  Duncan  was  for  years  a potent  factor  in  the  community  which  he  had 
helped  largely  to  found  by  his  integrity,  clear  judgment  and  successful  business 
career.  He  was,  in  his  young  manhood,  a banker — the  first  in  Mississippi. 
Here,  within  the  circle  of  a few  miles,  stood  many  stately  homes,  beautiful 
Melrose,  the  home  of  the  McMurrans;  Montebello,  the  home  of  the  Shields; 
Blmscourt,  the  home  of  the  Merrills;  Linden,  the  home  of  the  Conners; 
Richmond,  the  home  of  the  Marshalls;  Sommerset,  the  home  of  the  Chotards; 
Ingleside,  the  home  of  the  Calhouns;  The  Briars,  the  home  of  the  Howells, 
where  Jefferson  Davis  wooed,  won  and  married  his  gifted  wife  ; the  many 
handsome  residences  owned  by  the  Routh  family , four  of  these  perfectly  appointed 


OLD  AND  NEW  NA  TCHEZ. 


1 1 

establishments  lying  within  a stone’s  throw  of  one  another,  just  beyond  the 
city  limits  on  the  south  side.  John  Routh  was  immensely  wealthy,  and  for  a 
score  of  years  shipped  annually,  from  his  various  plantations  in  Concordia  and 
Tensas  parishes,  four  thousand  bales  of  cotton.  They  were  large-hearted, 
pleasure-loving  people,  who  enjoyed  and  made  others  enjoy  their  vast  estates. 

Alvarez  Fisk  was  one  of  the  leading  citizens  of  Natchez  sixty  years  ago. 
While  the  trend  of  the  taste  of  most  of  the  men  of  wealth  and  position  was 
essentially  English  in  their  preference  for  suburban  residences,  Mr.  Fisk’s  elegant 
home  was  in  the  city.  It  occupies  an  entire  square.  One  incident,  connected 
with  his  valuable  life  is  of  general  interest,  as  it  illustrates  the  importance  of 
accuracy  in  business  matters,  either  large  or  small,  or  it  proves  that  he  had  a 
prophetic  spirit  which  enabled  him  to 

“Dip  into  the  Future, 

Far  as  human  eye  can  see.’’ 

In  disposing  of  his  large  fortune,  he  left  a bequest  to  be  used  in  establishing 
a city  school,  which  has  existed  ever  since,  under  the  name  of  the  Public  In- 
stitute. After  the  war  was  over  and  the  subject  of  education  again  claimed 
attention,  an  effort  was  made  in  Natchez  to  inaugurate  the  system  of  mixed 
race  schools.  There  was,  of  course,  strenuous  opposition,  and  the  point  at  issue 
bid  fair  to  create  much  disturbance,  when  upon  re-reading  the  charter  it 
was  found  that  the  insertion  of  one  word  had  forever  settled  the  vexed  question. 

‘ ‘A  permanent  institution  for  the  education  of  white  children so  ran  the  original 
document  and  the  philanthropists  of  the  new  social  order  w'ere  forced  to  concede 
the  position  desired. 

The  name  of  Fisk  is  held  in  high  honor  in  Natchez. 

Within  the  city  limits  stand  three  costly,  elegant  homes  of  comparatively 
recent  date,  built  by  the  Plendersons,  the  Stantons  and  the  Davises.  The 
Hendersons  were  among  the  pioneers,  a family  remarkable  for  fixed  principle, 
unswerving  integrity  and  rich  in  good  works.  With  the  exception  of  the  Fisk 
house,  the  Hendersons’  was  the  first  fine  residence  located  in  the  heart  of  the 
town.  It  is  a handsome,  commodious  dwelling  of  recent  style,  having  been 
erected  not  more  than  forty  years  ago,  and  is  now  owned  by  the  heirs  of  Audley 
Britton,  who  was  for  a long  while  the  principal  banker  of  Natchez.  Early  in 
this  century  two  young  Irish  boys,  mere  lads  in  fact,  came  to  this  country 
together.  Both  became  merchants,  and  were  eminently  successful.  The  one, 
A.  T.  Stewart,  was  afterwards  the  merchant-prince  of  New  York;  the  other, 
Frederick  Stanton,  sought  the  undeveloped  fields  of  the  South  and  directed  his 
first  energies  to  establishing  an  extensive  commission  business  in  Natchez,  and 
subsequently  in  New  Orleans. 

In  the  mansion  which  bears  his  name  no  expense  was  spared.  The  man- 
tels and  chandeliers  were  made  in  France  and  Italy,  by  especial  order,  from 
selected  designs,  and  all  else  was  on  the  same  expensive  scale.  From  cellar  to 
attic  this  grand  house  was  complete.  It  is  now  occupied  as  a college  for  the 
higher  education  of  women.  Only  a few  years  before  the  war  Alfred  Davis  built 
on  the  site  of  the  old  Ellis  property  what  is  possibly  the  handsomest  house  of 
all  yet  described.  Surely  nothing  could  be  found  lacking  in  this  perfect  estab- 
lishment, and  yet  the  enjoyment  was  but  transient.  In  a few  short  years  the 
fair  young  mistress  of  “ Dunleith  ” passed  from  earth  to  heaven,  and  the  place 
was  immediately  sold.  It  is  still,  however,  a delight  to  the  eye. 

East  of  all,  because  claiming  peculiar  interest  at  this  time,  inasmuch  as  the 
stately  presence  which  brightened  it  fifty  years  ago  still  holds  sway,  is  “Arling- 
ton,” the  home  of  Mrs.  S.  S.  Boyd,  the  widow  of  Judge  Boyd,  one  of  the  most 
prominent  lawyers  at  the  bar  of  Mississippi,  who  died  many  years  since. 

The  priceless  dower  of  flowers  which  the  balmy  South  gives  to  her  children 
is  assuredly  here  on  every  hand,  and  the  gracious  chatelaine  and  her  accom- 


12 


THE  MEMENTO 


VIEW  FROM  THE  BLUFFS — 

VI  DALI  A IN  THE  DISTANCE. 


plisbed  daughter  well  represent 
the  grace  and  refinement  of  the  old 
Southern  life  now  passing  away.  The 
library  at  Arlington,  consisting  of  eight  thou- 
sand volumes,  is  of  great  value.  This  library 
and  some  fine  works  of  art  are  still  eloquent  en- 
dorsements of  all  that  has  been  stated  in  regard  to  the 
taste  and  culture  of  this  society  in  the  olden  time.  Among 
the  many  delightful  paintings  which  adorn  the  walls  of  Arlington 
may  be  mentioned  a copy  of  Raphael’s  Galatea,  by  Coccanari;  a Marine  Piece, 
by  Vernet;  Convoy  of  Prisoners,  by  Schwenfust;  an  Annunciation,  by  Barrocio, 
and  one  of  Carlo  Dolci’s  incomparable  Magdalens.  All  around  and  about  the 
spacious  rooms  lie  articles  of  genuine  worth  and  beauty,  putting  to  shame  the 
gaudy,  ill-assorted  bric-a-brac  too  often  seen  in  modern  dwellings. 

One  quiet,  lonely,  but  not  forgotten  spot  must  ever  claim  a warm  interest 
from  intelligent  visitors  from  whatever  section  of  the  United  States.  It  is  the 
grave  of  the  most  gifted  lawyer,  the  most  brilliant  orator  of  his  time,  Sargent 
S.  Prentiss.  He  died  in  1850,  comparatively  a young  man.  His  brilliant  sun 
went  down  at  noon.  He  is  buried  in  the  private  cemetery  of  the  Sargent  family 
at  1 ‘ Longwood,  ’ ’ two  miles  from  town . Another  point  of  interest  which  deserves 
mention  in  these  reminiscences  is  the  old  State  House,  in  the  village  of  Wash- 
ington, six  miles  east  of  the  city.  It  was  originally  built  for  a church,  by 
Rorenzo  Dow,  an  eccentric  but  eloquent  itinerant  preacher,  who  exerted  a 
powerful  influence  in  his  day,  and  of  whom  some  most  amusing  stories  are  told. 
The  church  was  afterwards  transformed  into  the  State  House,  and  it  was  here 
that  Aaron  Burr  was  brought  after  his  arrest  for  treason,  in  1807. 

Lying  south  of  the  city  was  an  area  of  this  picturesque  country  of  high 
hill  and  lowly  dale,  of  running  brook  and  luxuriant  foliage,  about  ten  miles 
square,  bounded  by  two  treacherous  creeks  known  as  St.  Catherine’s  creek  and 
the  Second  creek.  This  land  was  dotted  with  handsome  homes,  occupied  at 
intervals  by  wealthy  cotton  planters  who  lived  on  these  plantations,  each  one 
of  which  was  a village  in  miniature.  Huge  brick  kilns  were  burned,  trees 
felled,  wood  sawed;  houses  built,  painted,  plastered  and  papered;  blacksmith 
shops,  looms,  large  poultry  yards,  extensive  dairies,  acres  of  fruit  trees  of  every 
variety,  fine  stables,  etc.  Landscape  gardeners  were  brought  from  England 
and  Scotland  to  design,  arrange  and  keep  in  admirable  order  the  ornamental 
grounds,  and  gardens  of  the  rarest,  choicest  flowers  imported  from  all  parts  of 
the  world.  These  gardens  were  the  delight  and  glory  of  the  plantation  life. 
Here  happy  children  played  and  held  high  revel  in  summer  bowers  where 
the  climbing  chrometella,  the  le  mangue  and  the  marechal  neil  mingled  their 
roses  in  rich  profusion.  Here  the  privileged  guests  strolled  in  the  balmy 
evening  air,  or  when  the  light  of  the  soft  Southern  moon  transformed  the 
charming  realities  of  the  day,  into  a scene  of  positive  enchantment,  one  could 
wander  at  will  through  long  avenues  of  the  pomegranate,  with  its  polished  leaf 
and  scarlet  blossom,  or  the  gloria  mundi,  beautiful  alike  in  winter  or  in  summer, 
or  the  almond-scented  oleander,  or  where  the  arbor-vitse  cast  its  impenetrable 
shade;  these,  and  myriads  of  other  delicious  influences,  lent  their  witchery  to 
enhance  the  enjoyment  of  the  hour. 


OLD  AND  NEW  NATCHEZ. 


i3 


This  locality,  so  highly  favored,  was  known  as  the  Second  Creek  neigh- 
borhood, and  rivaled  Natchez  in  its  elevated  social  standard  and  elegance  of 
living.  It  was  on  Second  Creek  that  Dr.  William  Mercer,  a warm  personal 
friend  of  Henry  Clay,  and  indeed  of  most  prominent  men  of  his  day,  owned 
his  beautiful  country  home,  “Laurel  Hill,  ’’  with  its  adjacent  chapel,  built  and 
maintained  by  Dr.  Mercer  in  true  English  style.  He  also  occupied  a splendid 
establishment  on  Canal  street,  New  Orleans,  and  was  famous  for  his  hospitality, 
but  spent  in  those  old  days  much  time  in  this  quiet  home  with  its  artistic 
chapel  and  many  fine  paintings  and  articles  of  virtu,  chosen  from  rare  sources, 
with  the  eye  of  a connoisseur. 

A near  neighbor  and  life-long  friend,  was  Dr.  James  Metcalfe,  one  of  a 
family  of  distinguished  physicians,  and  a man  who  bequeathed  to  his  children 
an  inheritance  of  professional  ability.  He  was  the  father  of  Dr.  John  Metcalfe, 
of  New  York,  and  father-in-law  of  the  no  less  eminent  Dr.  Chopin,  of  New 
Orleans.  Here  also  dwelt  for  scores  of  years  of  uninterrupted  prosperity,  the 
Dunbars,  the  Jenkins,  the  Surgets,  the  Gillespies,  the  Conners,  the  Bennetts, 
the  Helms  and  the  Raileys. 

These  planters  owned  thousands  of  acres  of  land ; they  provided  alike  in 
times  of  plenty  and  of  failure,  in  health  and  in  sickness,  for  hundreds  of  depend- 
ants, who  felt  their  family  identity,  and  were  happy  in  so  doing,  serving  with 
love  and  willing  alacrity  the  master  and  his  household.  Amid  such  circum- 
stances grew  women  trained  in  all  that  constitutes  nobility  of  soul  and  sentiment, 
intelligence  and  purity,  and  their  influence  dominated  the  whole.  How  entirely 
did  the  true  life  of  the  Southern  woman  refute  the  harsh  criticisms,  disprove 
the  false  statements  which  have  been  made,  heard  and  believed  concerning  it! 

Through  her,  and  her  alone,  was  that  subtle,  potent  charm  exercised 
which  transformed  the  very  nature  of  the  colored  race  from  the  savage  imported 
from  the  wilds  of  Africa  to  the  faithful,  devoted,  well-trained  servant,  glad  to 
do  that  mistress’  will.  The  untutored  savage  was  brought  here  and  did  become, 
in  thousands,  yes,  ten  thousands  of  instances,  the  trusted  servant ; often 
the  valued  friend.  Was  this  miracle  wrought  by  magic?  Verily,  by  the 
divine  magic  of  sympathy  and  love.  From  generation  to  generation,  receiving 
it  from  her  mother  as  a sacred  trust  which  she  herself  had  received  and  held 
in  turn,  did  the  conscientious  Southern  matron  accept  the  task  of  civilizing, 
training  and  protecting  those  who  were  dependent  upon  her  ; guiding  them  in 
duty,  nursing  them  in  sickness,  comforting  them  in  dying. 

How  early  this  benign  influence  was  recognized  may  be  illustrated  by 
a touching  incident  which  occurred  one  hundred  and  twenty  years  ago. 
A negro  brought  from  Africa,  with  many  others  on  a slave  ship,  was  pur- 
chased and  owned  by  a planter  of  Second  Creek.  He  claimed  to  have  been 
a person  of  high  degree  in  his  own  country,  and  in  a kind  of  mock  courtesy 
he  was  called  “Prince.”  The  bonds  of  servitude  lay  heavy  upon  him.  He 
was  restive  against  all  authority  and  impatient  under  restraint,  and  soon 
became  a most  undesirable  element  in  the  plantation  life.  Finally,  after 
repeated  resistance,  he  disappeared.  All  efforts  to  ascertain  his  whereabouts 
proved  unavailing  and  after  a while  search  or  inquiry  was  abandoned.  It 
was  thought  that  he  might  have  gone  to  the  great  river  and  trusted  him- 
self to  some  impromptu  craft  and  been  drowned,  or  that,  lost  in  the  vast  uncut 
forests,  he  could  have  miserably  perished  from  fatigue  and  hunger.  Many 
weeks  passed,  when  one  morning  as  the  mistress  sat  quietly  sewing  in  her 
chamber,  the  closed  door  softly  opened  and  the  recreant  Prince  stood  before 
her.  He  was  a man  of  powerful  frame,  well-proportioned,  and  black  as 
ebony.  His  tattered  garments  hung  from  him  and  his  fierce  eye  was  riveted 
upon  her.  It  was  appalling.  Instant  death  seemed  imminent.  With  marvel- 
ous presence  of  mind  she  arose,  smiled  and  extended  her  hand  to  him.  He 
sprang  forward,  seized  it,  and  the  next  moment  the  stalwart  form  was  prostrate 
on  the  floor,  and  taking  one  of  her  delicate  feet  in  his  great  hand  he  placed  it 


14 


THE  MEMENTO 


upon  his  neck.  It  was  an  absolute  surrender  to  the  power  of  that  smile  and 
that  touch.  From  that  day  until  his  death,  at  an  advanced  age,  Prince  was  a 
faithful,  loyal  servant,  and,  I may  add,  trusted  and  beloved. 

Such  was  some  of  the  noble  work  of  woman,  accomplished  in  the  early  days 
of  the  Old  South.  When  the  emancipation  proclamation  bore  on  its  broad, 
untried  wings  the  astounding  information  that  these  former  slaves  would  hence- 
forth be  deemed  worthy  to  stand  side  by  side  with  the  Caucasian  in  legislative 
halls  ; to  cope  with  him  for  the  greatest  honors  ; to  share  with  him  the  highest 
places  in  the  gift  of  the  government,  what  an  unconscious  tribute  was  paid  to 
Southern  women  by  the  severest  critics  of  the  social  order. 

In  this  favored  community  the  spirit  of  justice  and  tolerance  prevailed. 
The  Roman  Catholic  faith  was  held  by  early  Spanish  and  French  settlers,  being 
of  course  their  national  religion,  but  in  1790  the  first  Protestant  Episcopal 
church  was  built,  and  eleven  years  later  the  Presbyterian  denomination  was 
represented,  freedom  of  speech,  freedom  in  action,  in  religion,  was  everywhere 
given  and  expected.  In  politics  the  feeling  was  strong,  decided,  but  not  bitter 
and  vituperative.  This  condition  was  largely  owing  to  the  individual  independ- 
ence felt  and  recognized,  and  was  incident  to  the  lifeof  the  Southern  gentleman, 
the  outcome  of  his  pursuits  and  environment.  Of  the  ethical  standard  of  the 
men  of  this  time,  it  may  truly  be  said  that  “Honor  was  the  subject  of  their 
story.”  A man’s  word  was  his  bond.  A broken  pledge,  a dishonest  transaction, 
meant  social  ostracism — upright  dealing  was  given  and  required  in  every 
relation.  In  their  homes  was  the  hospitality,  not  of  pride  and  ostentation,  but 
of  the  heart,  and  in  princely  style.  It  was  the  prerogative  of  wealth  nobly 
applied.  A gentleman’s  guest  was,  by  the  rule  of  right  royal  courtesy,  the 
guest  of  his  friends.  Of  the  social  life,  the  private  life,  enjoyed  by  these  delight- 
ful people,  it  is  impossible  to  give  but  the  merest  outline.  It  was  bounded  by 
the  sacred  precincts  of  home,  controlled  by  all  that  makes  life  beautiful,  in  con- 
genial friendship,  in  charming  reunions,  in  the  high  mental  attainment  acquired 
by  travel  and  elegant  leisure,  but  exclusive  to  a degree,  which  rendered  imperti- 
nent approach  and  vulgar  publicity  impossible.  Surrounded  by  wealth  and  all 
the  accessories  of  advanced  civilization,  they  lived  what  seemed  an  ideal  life 
and  the  cares  and  perplexities  of  the  outer  world  passed  them  by  unharmed. 
They  were  the  representatives  of  a noble  race  that  has  passed  away  forever; 
men,  whose  youth  and  strength,  and  energy,  were  coeval  with  the  youth  and 
strength  and  energy  of  our  beloved  South.  Born  when  the  country  was  in 
its  infancy,  when  patriotism  was  an  enthusiasm,  they  shared  with  her  her 
glorious  maturity;  with  her  sad  reverses,  they  declined  and  died,  lamenting 
not  more  their  individual  misfortunes  than  the  fate  of  that  goodly  land. 

And  in  conclusion,  some  of  the  homes  of  the  South  have  been  described, 
some  of  the  men  of  the  South  have  been  recalled,  but  what  of  those  women 
who  adorned  those  grand  homes  and  lived  that  beautiful  life  in  Natchez  before 
the  war?  Most  of  them  have  gone  to  their  reward.  Thank  God  for  the  sacred 
memories  and  inspirations  for  higher  endeavor  they  have  left  us.  When  the 
internecine  conflict  was  over  and  the  shadow  of  defeat  lay  broad  and  deep,  a 
tragedy  in  every  home,  an  unhealing  wound  in  every  heart,  then  did  those 
noble  women  assert  themselves. 

Reared  in  luxury  from  the  cradle,  every  fine  instinct  carefully  trained,  did 
they  “stand  bewildered  with  their  woe”?  Not  so;  too  sad  to  weep,  too  proud 
to  complain,  they  stooped  with  dignity  and  took  up  the  broken  thread  of  life 
and  like  their  divine  prototype  “went  about  doing  good.” 

More  loving,  more  helpful  than  in  days  of  affluence;  hoping  when  others 
had  forgotten  how  to  hope;  teaching  by  example,  where  words  of  encourage- 
ment would  fail. 

This  was  the  work  of  those  great-hearted  women  who  lived  in  those 
Natchez  homes  after  the  war. 


OLD  AND  NEW  NATCHEZ. 


‘5 


Concord,  the  Residence  of  the  Spanish  Governors,  Lemos  and  Minor,  bought  by 
Dr.  Stephen  Kelly  of  New  York  City. 


16 


THE  MEMENTO 


Montebello. 


OLD  AND  NE  W NA  TCHEZ. 


i7 


NATCHEZ — 1797. 

THE  3 1ST  DEGREE  OF  LATITUDE — NORTH. 

NATCHEZ  IN  1797 — THE  FIRST  FLAG  UNFURLED — FIRST  ARRIVAL  OF  U.  S.  TROOPS 
— ELLICOTT  AND  POPE — MAJOR  GUION — GOVERNOR  GAYOSO — DE- 
PARTURE OF  THE  SPANIARDS — MAJOR  MINOR — WM. 

DUNBAR,  OF  “THE  FOREST’’ — DON  JOSE  VIDAL. 

BY  JOSEPH  D.  SHIELDS. 

ELLICOTT  left  Natchez  on  the  9th  of  April,  and  camped  just  below  Loftus’ 
Heights  (now  called  Fort  Adams),  at  Clarksville,  then  the  plantation  of 
Daniel  Clarke,  Sr.,  where  it  was  generally  supposed  the  thirty-first  degree,  form- 
ing the  boundary  between  the  two  provinces,  would  cross  the  Mississippi  river. 
After  a week  of  laborious  observation,  with  complete  astronomical  apparatus, 
Ellicott  ascertained  that  he  was  three  miles  and  two  hundred  and  ninety  perches 
too  far  north.  He  then  chose  for  his  first  position  an  elevated  site  one  thousand 
and  four  hundred  feet  south  of  the  thirty-first  degree.  On  the  21st hewas  visited 
by  Governor  Gayoso,  who  formally  introduced  to  him  Don  Estevan  Minor  and 
Wm.  Dunbar,  Esq.,  as  duly  authorized  by  him  to  act  respectively  as  commis- 
sioner and  astronomer  for  the  King.  Stephen  Minor,  a Pennsylvanian  by  birth, 
had  come  early  into  the  Spanish  dominions,  wffiere  his  education,  his  well-bal- 
anced mind,  his  business  habits,  and  his  grave  and  dignified  manners,  recom- 
mended him  to  the  authorities.  He  held  the  rank  of  Captain  in  the  royal 
armies,  and,  by  virtue  of  his  command  of  the  post  of  Natchez,  had  the  brevet 
rank  of  Major.  He  filled  various  civil  offices,  and  before  the  promotion  of 
Gayoso,  and  in  his  temporary  absence,  exercised  the  executive  functions.  The 
general  lenity  that  prevailed,  it  is  fair  to  presume,  was  due  in  part  to  his  coun- 
sels. On  the  change  of  flags  he  remained  at  Natchez,  and  bore  faithful  alle- 
giance to  the  United  States.  He  was  a useful,  enterprising  and  public-spirited 
citizen.  In  the  war  of  1813-14,  when  the  Indians  were  desolating  the  Eastern 
frontier,  and  there  was  not  a dollar  in  the  Territorial  treasury,  and  no  remit- 
tances from  the  War  Department,  Major  Minor  liberally  advanced  the  money  to 
enable  General  Claiborne  to  transport  his  troops  to  the  scene  of  war.* 

William  Dunbar,  the  astronomer  of  the  King,  wras  a native  of  Scotland, 
younger  son  of  Sir  Archibald  Dunbar,  a collateral  of  one  of  the  oldest  earldoms 
of  the  kingdom.  He  had  been  liberally  educated,  and  after  residing  some  time 
in  London,  determined  to  try7  his  fortunes  in  America.  He  procured  an  outfit 
of  goods  suitable  for  the  Indian  trade,  from  thegreat  house  of  Hunter  & Bailey, 
London,  which  he  shipped  to  Philadelphia.  In  April,  1771,  he  transported  his 
goods,  overland  to  Fort  Pitt  (near  Pittsburg),  and  in  two  months  had  ex- 
changed them  for  peltries,  which  were  duly7  forwarded  to  London.  After  sev- 
eral successful  adventures  of  this  nature,  Mr.  Dunbar  formed  a connection  with 
a countryman,  John  Ross,  an  eminent  merchant  and  capitalist  of  Philadelphia, 
who,  with  his  brother  Alexander  Ross,  was  the  first  to  develop  the  great  iron 
and  coal  interests  in  Pennsylvania,  Virginia  and  Tennessee.  In  1773,  by  the 
advice  of  Mr.  Ross,  he  repaired  to  Pensacola,  then  the  capital  of  the  British 
province  of  West  Florida,  and  obtained  from  Gov.  Chester  a permit  to  settle  on 
a tract  ofland  near  Baton  Rouge,  then  called  by7  the  English  New  Richmond. 
He  then  sailed  for  Jamaica,  where,  through  the  agency7  of  the  house  of  Thomp- 
son & Co.,  he  purchased  a number  of  Africans,  still  on  ship- board.  These  he 
brought  to  Pensacola,  thence  across  the  lake,  and  up  the  Amite  and  Manchuak 
to  his  settlement.  Here  he  cultivated  indigo,  but  soon  found  it  more  profitable 


•See  Claiborne’s  Life  and  Times  of  General  Sami.  Dale. 


i8 


THE  MEMENTO 


to  make  staves  for  the  West  Indian  trade.  In  1795,  West  Florida  having  again 
reverted  to  Spain,  and  the  district  of  Natchez  being  ceded  to  the  United  States, 
he  left  New  Richmond  and  established  himself  on  Second  Creek,  ten  miles  from 
Natchez,  at  the  place  now  known  as  “The  Forest.”  Indigo  and  tobacco, 
hitherto  the  chief  staples,  had  been  given  up  for  cotton,  and  Mr.  Dunbar  soon 
became  the  most  extensive  and  successful  planter  in  the  district.  He  devoted 
the  best  years  of  his  life  almost  exclusively  to  science.  He  was  the  correspon- 
dent of  Jefferson,  of  Dr.  Herschel,  the  great  astronomer;  of  Ritterhouse  and 
Rush;  and  his  attainments  and  researches  in  this  remote  and  then  unexplored 
field  of  inquiry  had  brought  him  into  fellowship  with  the  wise  and  learned  of  all 
countries. 

When  the  point  of  latitude  had  been  determined  by  Ellicott,  from  his  com- 
manding position  near  Clarksville,  an  inundation  prevented  his  approach  to 
the  bank  of  the  river.  But  the  waters  having  receded  by  the  28th  of  July,  it 
was  agreed  that  Mr.  Dunbar  should  extend  the  line  through  the  swamp  to  the 
margin  of  the  Mississippi.  It  was  found  to  be  21 11.42  French  toises,  or  2 
miles  180  perches,  English  measure,  through  the  lowlands.  At  a distance  of 
one  and  two  miles  small  posts  or  mounds  of  earth  were  planted,  and  eighty- 
eight  feet  from  the  bank  of  the  river,  and  in  the  parallel  of  latitude,  he  threw  up 
a pyramid  of  earth  ten  feet  high  on  which  was  put  a post,  the  South  side 
marked  with  a crown  and  the  letter  R;  on  the  North  side  U.  S.;  on  the  West, 
facing  the  river,  latitude  thirty-one  degrees  North,  August  18th,  1798. 

With  this  service  Mr.  Dunbar  withdrew  from  the  commission,  leaving 
Major  Minor  sole  representative  of  the  King.  The  commissioners  continued 
the  extension  of  the  line,  and  after  various  interruptions  closed  their  labors  on 
the  St.  Mary’s  river,  in  Georgia,  April  25,  1800. 

When  the  survey  had  been  completed,  and  proper  transcripts  made  for  the 
representative  governments,  the  commissioners  repaired  to  New  Orleans  to 
obtain  the  approval  of  Governor  Gayoso.  Three  weeks  passed  before  the  neces- 
sary preparations  could  be  made.  On  the  day  appointed  for  the  exchange  of 
signatures,  a battalion  of  troops,  with  a royal  band  was  drawn  up  on  the  Place 
d’Armes.  The  gorgeous  banner  of  Spain  floated  over  the  government  house. 
In  the  centre  of  the  Hall  of  Audience  was  placed  a large  table  covered  with 
purple  velvet,  and  embroidered  with  the  Spanish  arms.  Two  perfumed  tapers 
for  melting  the  sealing  wax,  were  placed  on  each  side  of  an  immense  silver 
stand-dish,  manufactured  for  the  occasion.  The  sand-box  was  in  the  form  of  a 
drum,  braced  with  golden  wire  and  emblazoned  with  military  emblems.  The 
inkstand  represented  a bedded  mortar,  and  could  be  elevated  or  depressed. 
This  device,  the  Governor  jocosely  remarked,  was  quite  appropriate,  as  the 
matter  drawn  from  a mortar  and  an  inkstand  were  each  at  times  very  destruc- 
tive. When  the  prim  American  Quaker  affixed  his  signature,  and  the  stately 
Spaniard  wrote  his  name  with  the  traditional  flourish,  a salvo  of  artillery 
announced  that  the  line  of  demarkation  had  been  established. 

The  astronomical  report  for  His  Catholic  Majestjr  was  made  by  Mr.  Dun- 
bar; and  the  late  Alexander  Everett,  who  examined  it  in  the  archives  at  Mad- 
rid, often  referred  to  it  as  a document  of  rare  science  and  accuracy.  In  this 
labor  he  was  assisted  by  Don  Jose  Vidal,  commandant  of  the  district  of 
Concord  (extending  from  Point  Coupee  to  New  Madrid),  the  last  of  the 
Spanish  officers  in  Louisiana,  a gallant  and  accomplished  gentleman  of  ancient 
family,  distinguished  as  a soldier  and  for  his  generous  and  noble  heart.  He 
died  on  his  plantation,  near  his  old  post  opposite  Natchez,  universally  beloved 
and  leaving  descendants  worthy  of  their  lineage. 

Ellicott  never  returned  to  this  country.  His  dream  of  ambition  vanished 
with  his  mission.  Pope  died  in  obscurity.  But  Gayoso  and  Wilkinson,  Guion 
and  Vidal,  are  historical  names,  closely  and  honorably  connected  with  our 
early  movements  and  traditions. 


OLD  AND  NEW  NA  TCHEZ. 


19 


‘Gloster”  Residence  of  Hon.  Winthrop  Sargent.  First  Governor  of  Mississippi,  1798. 

Natchez,  Miss. 


Hall  at  Arlington. 


20 


THE  MEMENTO 


Monmouth. 


Stanton 


OLD  AND  NEW  NA  TCHEZ. 


2 I 


NATCHEZ  IN  THE  THIRTIES 


LETTER  OF  MAJOR  S.  F.  POWER,  NATCHEZ,  PUBLISHED  IN  NEW  ORLEANS 
TIMES-DEMOCRAT  OF  APRIL  1 4,  1 895. 

ATCHEZ  in  the  30’s  had  her  cotton  mills,  ship  landing,  cotton  press,  foun- 


dry, etc.,  above  “Brown’s  Gardens,’’  so  famous  in  those  days,  where  were 
cultivated  the  largest  and  richest  of  rare  plants.  The  Estate — with  its  mounds, 
walks,  cute  summer  houses,  where  the  citizen  or  stranger  was  ever  welcome,  the 
pride  of  our  city,  and  a great  attraction  to  visitors — fronting  the  grand  old  Mis- 
sissippi river,  has  been  in  the  family  eighty-odd  years,  and  is  now  the  lovely 
home  of  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Rufus  Reamed.  “Brown’s  Sawmill,’’  adjoining,  one  of 
the  most  valuable  plants  in  the  State,  is  yet  the  old  landmark — well-known  to 
those  who  have  navigated  the  mighty  Mississippi  for  nearly  a century. 

Mr.  Richard  Wilds  built  and  run  a foundry  near  the  ship  landing;  made 
his  own  engines;  he  was  an  expert  (dear,  noble  Dick!) ; he  was  the  inventor  of 
a cotton  seed  crusher,  the  first  known  in  the  South.  The  crude  oil  expressed 
was  dark  and  thick;  there  was  not  then  any  demand  or  market  for  the  product. 

Piles  upon  piles  of  cotton  seed  were  left  to  rot  and  waste  outside  of  the 
cotton  gins  in  those  days.  Oh,  what  a change,  1895.  Millions  are  invested  in 
the  crushing  of  cotton  seed,  one  of  the  most  profitable  industries  in  the  United 
States.  Our  own  worthy  president  of  the  Board  of  Supervisors,  Oliver  N. 
Wilds,  is  a son  of  Richard  Wilds,  deceased. 

There  are  few  left  of  our  old  citizens  who  can  call  to  mind  the  loading  of 
ships  with  cotton  for  Europe,  the  delightful  hops,  parties,  etc.,  given  on  the 
vessels  by  the  officers  and  shippers.  Those  pleasant  days,  “Auld  Rang  Syne.’’ 

Messrs.  Frank  and  James  Surget  shipped  many  hundreds  of  bales  of  cot- 
ton direct  from  Natchez  to  Europe  in  the  30’s  and  40’s.  Messrs.  Dr.  Stephen 
Duncan,  Rinton,  Rivingston,  Rawlston,  Wilkins,  Minor  and  R.  R.  Marshall 
and  others  were  also  large  shippers  of  cotton  direct  to  Europe. 

The  favorite  theatre  in  Natchez  in  the  30’s  was  built  next  to  the  residence 
of  Dr.  Orick  Metcalfe,  Main  street,  where  appeared  the  elder  Booth,  Edwin 
Forrest,  Fannie  Elssler,  Celeste,  Scott,  Adams,  and  other  noted  “stars.’’  The 
next  built  up  was  on  the  property  of  Revi  G.  Harrison,  the  present  site  of  the 
large  brick  stables,  corner  Main  and  Canal,  occupied  by  Messrs.  Turley  & 
Parker.  The  next  was  the  old  Mechanics’  Hall,  which  was  then  situated  be- 
tween the  beautiful  residences  of  Dr.  J.  C.  French  and  Mr.  Chas.  T.  Chamberlain, 
where  the  “Home  Dramatic  Association’’  presented  many  plays.  The  “boys’’ 
met  with  success,  and  then  built  up  an  attractive  theatre,  corner  of  Franklin 
street  and  Rocust  Alley,  the  present  site  ofapartof  the  Gastrell  block,  occupiedby 
J.  E.  Rouse,  grocer.  This  valuable  block  of  brick  stores  (an  improvement  on  the 
old  frame  building)  is  an  ornament  to  our  city,  and  belongs  to  Mr.  Alex.  Smart. 

The  amateurs  of  those  prosperous  days  gave  to  the  dramatic  world  several 
good  actors  in  the  40’s  and  50’s.  Colonel  Wm.  Newman,  General  Wm.  Wood, 
“Chandler,’’  “Thelwell,”  “Srnythe,”  “Wright,”  “Cotton,”  Wm.  Rjde,  Steve 
Power,  Dan  Mills,  and  others;  also  several  lady  artists.  The  old  favorite  star, 
“Brougham,”  played  with  the  “Amateurs”  on  an  impromptu  stage  in  the  second 
story  of  our  old  courthouse.  The  local  histrionics  rigged  up  a stage  in  the  Old 
Agricultural  Bank,  corner  of  Main  street,  and  gave  many  exhibitions,  in  the  now 
First  National  Bank  of  Natchez  building.  What  an  improvement  on  the  past 
is  our  “gem,”  the  Temple  Opera  House,  in  the  grand  Masonic  building  ! Ma}7 
success  crown  the  efforts  of  the  loyal  and  energetic  Masons.  We  have  the  love- 
liest 900-seat  theatre  in  the  South. 

The  first  steamship  to  ascend  the  Mississippi  river  above  New  Orleans  was 
“The  Natchez,”  which  cleared  from  Natchez  with  a cargo  of  cotton  direct  for 
Europe  in  the  30’s.  The  ships,  Powhattan,  Amelia  Ballard  and  others,  loaded 
with  cotton  at  Natchez,  in  the  30’s  and  40’s. 


22 


THE  MEMENTO 


Dunleith 


OLD  AND  NEW  NATCHEZ. 


23 


A REMINISCENCE  OF  THE  FIFTIES. 


ATCHEZ  has  been  well  “shaken  up”  on  the  light  question  during  the  past 


six  weeks  or  more,  and  there  is  no  doubt  left  that  we  shall  soon  be  one 


of  the  best  lighted  cities  in  the  Union.  With  two  electric  light  companies,  both 
having  the  best  system  known  to  modern  science,  and  a gas  company  that  has 
served  us  faithfully  for  over  a quarter  of  a century,  surely  darkness  will  be 
known  no  more  within  our  corporation  limits. 

This  brings  to  mind  the  first  attempt  at  gas’lighting  made  in  Natchez,  an 
enterprise  which,  for  its  day  and  generation,  was  a brilliant  success. 

This  was  a gas  machine  built  in  Baltimore  in  1856,  for  Major  Stephen  F. 
Power,  then  proprietor  of  the  City  Hotel.  It  supplied  gas  to  the  hotel,  the 
Rosalie  Club,  which  was  the  grandest  social  organization  ever  known  in  Natchez, 
and  the  adjoining  building,  where  was  located  the  office  of  the  great  cotton 
house  of  Mandeville  & Mcllhenny,  of  which  firm  the  late  Duncan  Linton  was 
a partner  in  commendam.  The  rooms  of  the  Rosalie  Club  were  magnificently 
furnished,  with  all  the  appointments  that  could  be  suggested  by  elevated  culture 
and  refinement.  On  its  rolls  were  three  hundred  and  seventy  of  the  proudest 
uames  of  Adams  county,  men  eminent  as  lawyers,  orators,  scholars,  artisans, 
merchants  and  planters. 

Our  race  meetings  were  among  the  most  brilliant  known  in  the  American 
States.  Our  race  course  was  equal  to  any  in  the  country,  and  was  made 
famous  and  honorable  by  such  exemplary  lovers  of  the  turf  as  the  Bingemins, 
Minors,  Chotards,  Elliots,  Hoggatts,  Surgets,  Evanses,  Stantons,  Pryors, 
Winstons,  and  others.  Here  were  trained  many  of  the  horses  that  became  world- 
famous  : Lexington,  Lecomte,  Highlander,  Arrow,  Hard  Heart  and  others. 
One  of  the  prizes  offered  by  the  Rosalie  Club  as  a trophy  at  one  of  these  famous 
meetings — a magnificent  silver  pitcher,  which  was  won  by  the  celebrated  horse 
Steve  Power — is  yet  a valued  heirloom  in  possession  of  one  of  our  oldest  and 
most  honored  families. 

Many  of  our  young  people,  and  citizens  who  have  come  to  us  in  recent 
years,  may  possibly  think  that  Natchez  never  had  a hotel.  But  in  those  palmy 
days  when  Natchez,  the  gem  of  the  Mississippi  Valley,  from  her  vine-embowered 
cliffs  sent  her  sons  and  daughters  as  representatives  of  the  chivalry  and  beauty 
of  our  beloved  Southland,  to  be  loved  and  admired  amongst  the  most  cultured 
and  refined  of  the  world,  we  had  houses  of  entertainment  that  were  second  to 
none  in  all  that  constitutes  a first-class  hotel.  There  were  the  City  Hotel, 
located  opposite  the  present  headquarters  of  the  Little  J.,  which  had  175  rooms; 
the  Mansion  House,  on  the  site  now  occupied  by  the  Rosalie  Cotton  Mills,  with 
120  rooms;  the  Tremont  house,  with  60  rooms;  Parker’s  hotel,  the  Eagle, 
Steamboat  and  Harkness  hotels  The  four  last  named  were  blown  down  and 
totally  wrecked  in  the  tornado  of  1840.  The  Jefferson  hotel,  on  Franklin  street, 
once  a favorite  resort  for  country  gentlemen,  is  the  only  hostelry  of  the  ante- 
bellum days  that  still  remains. 

Why  can’t  we  have  a first-class  hotel?  It  would  pay  magnificently.  Our 
citizens  are  ready  to  give  a bonus  of  $10,000  to  the  man  or  company  who  will 
fill  this  “long  felt  want”. — Sunday  Banner,  Natchez , Nov.  nth , 1 888. 

Since  the  above  was  written  six  or  eight  of  our  own  liberal  citizens  have 
built  “The  Natchez,”  a hotel  we  can  feel  proud  of;  some  150  rooms,  well 
ventilated;  latest  modern  improvements,  elevators,  electric  and  gas  lights,  bath 
rooms,  &c.  Furnished  throughout  with  oak  and  ash  of  fine  finish. 

The  large  dining  room,  kitchen,  pantry,  are  in  the  top  story. 

The  present  manager,  James  G.  Smith,  gives  good  satisfaction. 


24 


THE  MEMENTO 


The  New  Electric  Light  Plant  furnishes  street  lights  nightly,  the  year 
round. 

Our  Post  Office  has  been  removed  to  the  Old  Commercial  Bank  Building. 
Marble  front,  Corinthian  columns,  fitted  up  as  “Uncle  Sam”  can  do  it. 

The  Pearl  Hotel,  opposite  the  old  Institute  Hall,  has  been  renovated  and 
furnished,  a popular  resort ; Eugene  M.  Clark,  manager. 

The  hotels  York,  Chapman  and  Harrington  are  well  managed,  and  have 
many  patrons. 


The  Briars. 


OLD  AND  NEW  NA  TCHEZ. 


25 


OUR  PARKS. 

WHILE  the  subject  of  public  improvement  is  before  the  people,  and  the  bonds 
authorized  for  such  work,  are  still  in  hand,  we  desire  to  call  attention  to 
the  subject  of  our  public  parks.  The  attractiveness  of  a city  helps  its  prosperity, 
and  we  know  of  no  feature  more  acceptable  to  the  general  public  than  well  reg- 
ulated parks.  The  memory  of  many  of  our  readers  will  revert  to  those  ante- 
bellum days,  when  the  great  promenade  was  on  the  bluff  in  front  of  the  present 
site  of  the  Natchez  Cotton  Mills,  then  occupied  by  the  buildings  of  the  respected 
firm  of  E.  B.  Baker  & Sons,  and  the  mammoth  stables  of  Jacob  Crizer.  At  its 
head  stood  the  Natchez  lighthouse,  lighted  with  whale-oil,  which  in  those  dis- 
tant days  was  the  great  illuminating  agent.  The  light-house  was  totally 
destroyed  in  the  tornado  of  1840.  Further  down  at  the  foot  of  Main  street  was  a 
peak  or  knoll  some  twenty  feet  high,  from  the  top  of  which  the  orators  of  the 
day,  Governors  McNutt,  McRea,  Guion,  Albert  Galatin,  Brown  and  Foote,  Gen- 
erals Robert  Stanton  and  John  A.  Quitman,  Giles  M.  Hillyer,  Col.  Claiborne, 
Will  T.  Martin,  Dickerson  McCreary,  Capt.  John  B.  Nevitt,  Col.  Bingaman, 
S.  S.  Prentiss,  Judge  Thatcher,  Hon.  Jefferson  Davis,  and  a host  of  others  whose 
names  have  illuminated  the  pages  of  American  history,  were  wont  by  their  elo- 
quence and  learning  to  hold  listening  thousands  in  pleasant  thraldom. 

This  peak  has  been  removed,  and  that  part  of  our  river  front  has  been 
graded  and  divided  into  three  very  pleasant  parks,  with  shade  trees,  benches 
and  walks. 

The  lower  park,  which  is  the  handsomest  of  the  three,  is  in  front  of  the 
elegant  residences  of  Stephen  E.  Rumble,  Esq.,  Judge  H.  R.  Steele,  Capt.  J.  B. 
O’Brien,  William  J.  Gaines,  Esq.,  and  James  B.  Metcalfe,  Esq. 

No  more  favorable  place  for  a park  and  promenade,  “a  breathing  place  for 
the  city’s  life,”  could  be  imagined,  and  these  improvements  should  be  contin- 
ued to  the  upper  limit  of  that  lovely  spot,  Clifton  Heights,  with  a broad  carriage 
drive,  well  graded  the  whole  distance. 

Of  the  wild  and  romantic  beauty  of  the  upper  bluffs,  especially  that  section 
in  front  of  Clifton  Heights,  the  pen  can  convej^  but  a poor  picture.  The  rifts 
and  gulches  and  natural  canyons  need  but  a touch  of  art  from  some  skillful 
hand  to  make  that  part  of  our  river  front  as  celebrated  for  its  beauty  as  the 
heretofore  unmatched  grandeur  of  the  world-famous  Yosemite  valley. 

The  canyon  at  the  upper  line  of  Clifton  Heights  is  the  climax,  and  even 
now,  in  its  native  wildness,  has  few  superiors  in  precipitous  picturesqueness. 
Standing  on  its  verge,  its  walls  two  hundred  feet  high,  covered  with  luxuriant 
verdure,  with  nooks  and  corners  and  bright  flowers,  the  famous  Brown’s  gar- 
den at  its  feet,  the  river  a winding  mirror  extending  through  miles  of  surround- 
ing country,  as  the  sun  sinks  in  clouds  of  molten  gold  below  the  Western 
horizon,  the  scene  is  magnificent  and  enchanting. 

What  a sweep  of  country  can  be  viewed  from  this  point.  Plantations  that 
have  been  under  cultivation  for  a century  and  a half,  waving  grain,  white- 
capped  cotton  and  dark  green  woodland  with  the  winding  river  and  beautiful 
Lake  Concordia  dancing  bright  in  the  evening  sun — how  charmed  will  be  the 
future  resident  of  this  spot. 

We  are  pleased  to  see  that  the  work  of  improving  Memorial  Park  has 
commenced.  The  dilapidated  fence  which  was  an  eye-sore  to  all  passers-by 
has  been  removed  and  an  elegant  and  substantial  iron  railing  has  been  placed 
around  this  Park,  which  is  not  only  to  be  a memorial  to  our  gallant  dead,  but 
is  the  resting  place  of  many  of  those  hardy  and  chivalrous  settlers  who  planted 
the  banner  of  civilization  and  progress  on  the  hills  of  Natchez  years  before  the 
site  of  the  Crescent  City  was  chosen.  This  spot  was  the  first  cemetery  laid  out 


26 


THE  MEMENTO 


in  Natchez,  and  when  doing  the  work  of  grading  the  remains  of  the  early  set- 
tlers who  had  been  buried  there,  were  carefully  gathered  and  deposited  in  the 
vault  in  the  center  of  the  ground.  Let  the  good  work  go  on  until  all  of  our 
parks  are  completed,  adding  to  the  beauty  of  our  city,  and  making  it  still  more 
attractive  to  our  citizens,  and  the  strangers  who  come  among  us. — Sunday 
Banner , Natchez , November  18,  1888. 

Since  the  above  article  was  written  “ Memorial  Park”  has  been  beautified 
and  made  attractive,  with  walks,  flowers,  seats  and  shade  trees.  The  Natchez 
Water  Works  and  Sewerage  Company  presented  the  Park  Commissioners  with 
a fountain,  twenty-eight  feet  high,  basin  forty  feet  in  diameter,  of  fine  work- 
manship, truly  an  ornament.  The  ladies — God  bless  them ! — who  never  tire,  and 
the  gentlemen,  who  gave  their  valuable  assistance,  have  erected  a lovely  monu- 
ment, surmounted  by  a life-size  figure  of  a Confederate  soldier  at  rest. 

The  new  carriage  drive  and  walks  on  Clifton  Heights  give  one  of  the  most 
picturesque  sights,  two  hundred  feet  above  and  overlooking  the  grand  old 
Mississippi  river. 


OLD  AND  NEW  NA  TCHEZ. 


27 


View  of  North  Commerce  Street. 


View  of  Franklin  Street 


>7 


2 8 


THE  MEMENTO 


Natchez  Postoffice — In  the  Old  Commercial  Bank  Building-. 


Main  Street  Looking  South. 


OLD  AND  NEW  NA  TCHEZ. 


29 


NATCHEZ : ITS  PAST,  PRESENT  AND  FUTURE. 


BY  MAJ.  THOMAS  GRAFTON,  EDITOR  NATCHEZ  DEMOCRAT,  1887. 

HE  city  of  Natchez  is  272  miles  above  New  Orleans,  on  the  Mississippi  River, 


and  is  one  of  the  oldest  towns  in  the  Southwest.  The  site  for  the  town 


was  selected  by  Bienville  in  1700,  and  the  fortress  of  Fort  Rosalie  was  erected 
and  settlers  brought  to  the  place  in  1712,  two  years  before  the  same  indomitable 
chieftain  located  the  city  of  New  Orleans.  The  magnificent  beauty  of  the  loca- 
tion attracted  the  attention  of  the  adventurous  explorer  after  encountering  the 
gloomy  monotony  of  three  hundred  miles  of  travel  on  the  muddy  river,  through 
swamps  covered  with  a dense  growth  of  timber  hung  with  the  somber,  funereal 
Spanish  moss,  and  dense  jungles  of  cane,  palmetto  and  thickets  of  undergrowth. 

Bienville  at  once  located  a site  for  a town  on  the  romantic  hills,  which  here 
at  an  elevation  of  nearly  two  hundred  feet  overlook  the  channel  of  the  mightiest 
river  in  the  world.  He  doubtless  designed  it  as  the  place  for  the  seat  of  gov- 
ernment of  the  French  colony  under  the  control  of  D’Iberville,  but  the  latter,  a 
few  years  later,  fixed  his  government  at  New  Orleans  and  Natchez  was  gar- 
risoned and  held  as  an  outpost  of  the  new  French  settlement.  The  fort  was 
called  Rosalie  in  honor  of  the  beautiful  Countess  of  Ponchartrain,  and  Natchez 
derived  its  name  from  the  tribe  of  Indians  which  inhabited  the  country  in  the 
vicinity  of  the  fortress.  Tradition  points  to  this  tribe  as  one  of  the  most  intel- 
ligent of  all  the  aboriginal  tribes,  and  romance  has  painted  them  in  colors  that 
scarcely  correspond  with  our  ideas  of  the  modern  Indian  savage.  Count  de 
Chateaubriand,  who,  at  a later  period,  traveled  in  this  section  of  the  country, 
doubtless  heard  these  romantic  traditions  of  the  Natchez,  and  these  together 
with  the  beautiful  landscapes  and  the  grand  scenery  of  the  country  around 
Natchez  doubtless  inspired  the  lovely  episode  of  “Attalla,”  inserted  in  his 
wonderful  work  Genie  du  Christianisme , and  the  characteristic  descriptions  in 
“ The  Natchez  ” and  “Rene.” 

The  French  garrison  soon  alienated  the  good  opinions  of  the  Natchez,  and 
it  was  not  long  before  they  conspired  with  other  tribes  for  its  destruction. 
Tradition  says  a daughter  of  the  “Sun,”  the  chief  of  the  Natchez,  who  loved 
one  of  the  officers  of  the  garrison,  endeavored  to  save  the  French  from  their 
fate,  but  in  vain.  She  succeeded,  however,  in  so  deranging  the  plans  of  the 
Indians  that  only  her  own  tribe,  the  Natchez,  were  present  on  the  day  fixed 
for  the  massacre.  These,  under  the  pretense  of  having  a grand  ball  play, 
assembled  around  the  fort,  the  large  entrance  to  which  was  left  open  that  the 
garrison  might  witness  the  sport  of  the  Indians.  In  the  midst  of  the  play  one 
of  the  Indians  sent  the  ball  flying  through  the  open  gate  and  there  was  a 
general  rush  of  the  dusky  players  through  the  gate  as  if  to  recover  the  ball. 
Having  thus  gained  entrance  to  the  fort,  and  the  French  suspecting  no  danger, 
an  attack  was  made  on  the  defenceless  soldiers,  and  soon  most  of  them  fell  vic- 
tims to  the  revenge  of  the  Indians. 

This  massacre,  which  occurred  in  1729,  was  soon  after  avenged  by  the 
French  and  the  Indian  tribes,  who  had  now  became  the  enemies  of  their  former 
allies,  the  Natchez,  and  this  most  interesting  of  all  the  Southern  Indian  tribes, 
was  exterminated.  The  name  of  the  lost  tribe  was,  however,  retained  as  that 
of  the  new  settlement,  and  the  “Natchez  country”  soon  became  noted  for  its 
beauty  and  fertility,  and  it  was. quickly  one  of  the  most  flourishing  of  the  French- 
American  settlements.  It  continued  to  be  a French  military  and  trading  post 
until  1763,  when  it  passed  by  treaty  into  the  hands  of  the  English.  The  name 
of  the  fort  was  changed  to  Pan  mure.  Scarcely  a vestige  of  its  history  remains 


3° 


THE  MEMENTO 


during  its  possession  by  England,  but  a number  of  English  set.lers  came  to  the 
place,  the  descendants  of  a few  of  whom  still  remain  among  the  population. 

In  the  year  1779  it  was  taken  possession  of  by  Spain  as  a part  of  Florida, 
and  continued  under  Spanish  control  until  1797,  when  a rectification  of  the 
lines  between  the  United  States  and  the  Spanish  colonies  threw  it  into  the 
United  States. 

The  occupation  of  Natchez  by  the  Spanish  government  is  probably  the 
most  interesting  period  of  its  early  history.  Large  numbers  of  enterprising 
Americans,  attracted  by  the  fame  of  the  fertility  and  beauty  of  the  country,  and 
encouraged  by  the  generous  manner  in  which  they  were  treated  under  the 
Spanish  regime,  flocked  to  Natchez  and  its  vicinity,  and  long  before  it  was 
known  to  be  American  territory  the  Anglicized  population  were  prepared  for  the 
advent  of  a Republican  form  of  government. 

The  residence  of  the  Spanish  Governor  was  at  Natchez,  and  for  the  greater 
part  of  the  time  of  the  Spanish  administration  the  position  was  held  by  Don 
Manuel  Gayoso  de  Demos,  ably  assisted  by  Don  Stephen  Minor,  an  American 
who  had  taken  service  with  Spain.  Governor  Gayoso  was  a man  of  liberal 
views  and  encouraged  the  immigration  of  settlers  from  every  country,  to  whom 
he  willingly  made  grants  of  land  for  settlement  and  lots  in  the  city  for  building. 
He  anticipated  a brilliant  future  for  the  seat  of  his  government.  The  residence 
lots  of  the  various  classes  of  settlers  in  the  town  were  kept  pretty  strictly  sepa- 
rated, and  that  portion  near  the  bluffs  on  the  river  was  known  to  the  settlers  as 
“Spanish  Town,’’  while  that  portion  east  of  the  present  Commerce  street  was 
designated  “ Irish  Town.’’  It  is  related  that  a rather  well-to-do  man,  not  of 
Spanish  origin,  approached  the  Governor  with  a request  for  a building  lot  near 
the  bluffs.  “No,  sir,’’  was  the  Governor’s  reply  ; “no,  sir.  This  part  of  the 
City  is  reserved  for  the  residence  of  Spanish  grandees.’’ 

A church  was  erected  in  what  was  intended  to  be  the  center  of  the  town, 
and  from  the  door  of  this  church  the  town  was  laid  off  in  rectangular  squares 
embracing  within  the  city  one  mile  in  each  direction.  All  the  lands  in  this 
boundary  were  donated  in  lots  to  settlers,  except  the  space  “ reserved  for  the 
residences  of  Spanish  grandees,’’  which  fell  into  the  hands  of  the  United  States 
government  and  afterwards  became  the  source  of  bitter  litigation  between  the 
City  and  Jefferson  College. 

The  buildings  in  the  town  were  of  an  humble  and  rather  primitive  character, 
and  few  traces  of  them  are  now  in  existence. 

At  length  the  United  States  took  active  steps  to  settle  the  question  of  the 
limits  of  the  two  countries,  as  it  was  evident  that  the  claim  of  Spain  was  made 
to  territory  far  north  of  its  true  boundary.  A detachment  of  troops  under 
command  of  Captain  Guion  was  sent  to  demand  possession  of  Natchez  in  1797. 
The  detachment  consisted  of  two  companies  of  infantry  selected  from  the  com- 
mand of  General  (Mad  Anthony)  Wayne,  and  were  commanded  by  Lieutenants 
Pope  and  McCleary.  After  considerable  delay,  during  which  a good  deal  of 
excitement  existed  among  the  American  inhabitants,  negotiations  were  brought 
to  an  end  by  the  silent  withdrawal,  at  night,  of  the  Spanish  troops,  and  the 
United  States  flag  was  peacefully  hoisted  over  the  ramparts  of  Fort  Panmure, 
and  Natchez  was  recognized  as  an  American  town.  In  1798  Mississippi  was 
organized  as  a territory,  and  Natchez  was  made  the  Capital.  Hon.  Winthrop 
Sargent,  the  first  governor,  had  his  residence  here,  and  with  his  Executive 
Council  framed  the  laws  of  the  territory. 

’ As  in  the  present  day,  the  printing  press  followed  the  footsteps  of  American 
pioneers,  and  probably  the  first  newspaper  ever  printed  in  the  Southwest  was 
issued  in  Natchez  by  Col.  Andrew  Murschalk,  in  1798.  The  first  laws  for  the 
regulation  of  the  territory  were  printed  by  him  the  same  year. 

After  the  transfer  of  the  territory,  immigration  to  Natchez  and  its  vicinity 
became  rapid,  and  the  town  soon  assumed  a prosperous  and  thriving  appearance; 


OLD  AND  NEW  NATCHEZ. 


3i 


soon  the  log  and  picket  houses  were  replaced  by  brick  and  frame  tene- 
ments. The  trade  of  the  place  increased  rapidly,  and  the  foundations  of  large 
fortunes  were  laid  by  commercial  men  in  Natchez.  Millaudom,  of  New  Orleans; 
Mullanphy,  of  St.  Louis;  Ralston,  of  Philadelphia;  Washington  Jackson,  of 
Liverpool;  and  many  other  prominent  merchants  of  the  United  States  and  other 
countries  began  their  mercantile  career  in  Natchez.  Probably  in  no  part  of  the 
United  States  was  wealth  more  rapidly  accumulated  than  it  was  by  the  hardy 
and  adventurous  men  who  were  the  pioneers  in  the  American  settlement  of 
Natchez. 

The  soil  of  the  country  contiguous  to  the  city  was  of  an  extremely  fertile 
character  and  the  cultivation  of  cotton  by  slave  labor  was  exceedingly  profita- 
ble, and  the  planter  who  gave  proper  attention  to  his  business  soon  became 
wealthy,  and  the  merchants  of  the  town  found  a large  sale  for  their  goods  at  very 
remunerative  profits.  The  first  forty  years  of  the  present  century  was  the  most 
prosperous  period  in  the  history  of  Natchez,  and  the  wealth  and  enterprise  of 
its  people  were  at  least  equal  to  that  of  any  community  in  the  United  States. 

Early  in  this  century  a branch  of  the  United  States  Bank  was  established 
in  Natchez,  and  a State  bank,  the  Bank  of  Mississippi,  was  also  established  in 
1809.  With  these  the  business  of  the  merchants  and  others  of  the  town  and 
surrounding  country  was  conducted,  and  they  were  the  only  banking  institu- 
tions in  the  State  until  1830,  when  the  Planters’  Bank  was  chartered  to  take 
the  place  of  the  Mississippi  Bank,  whose  charter  was  about  to  expire. 

About  this  time  a speculative  mania  began  in  the  States,  and  it  was  found 
that  the  banking  facilities  of  the  city  were  not  sufficient  for  its  business 
demands.  The  Agricultural  Bank  was  chartered,  and  not  long  after  another, 
the  Commercial  Bank,  was  added  to  the  number,  and  at  the  same  time  banking 
privileges  were  conferred  upon  a railroad  company  incorporated  for  the  con- 
struction of  a road  from  Natchez  to  Jackson,  and  the  Natchez  Shipping  Com- 
pany, organized  for  direct  shipping  between  the  port  of  Natchez  and  the  ports 
of  the  world. 

A cotton  compress  was  built,  and  in  1838  as  many  as  six  sailing  vessels  of 
good  size  were  lying  at  one  time  at  the  wharf  near  the  compress,  loading  with 
cotton  for  the  East  and  for  England.  About  the  same  time  probably  the  first 
cotton-seed  oil  mill  ever  built  was  constructed  in  this  city.  The  process  of 
linting  and  hulling  the  seed,  and  of  purifying  the  oil  was  unknown  to  these 
adventurous  oil  men,  and  a market  for  their  crude  oil  could  not  be  found,  and 
financial  troubles  prevented  them  from  realizing  the  benefits  of  their  enterprise. 

A cotton  mill  was  also  erected  about  the  same  time,  and  thus  Natchez  had, 
at  that  early  date,  three  of  the  enterprises  which,  fifty  years  after,  have  been 
found  to  be  so  profitable,  and  one,  a direct  shipping  enterprise,  which  has  not 
yet  been  revived. 

In  1836  or  ’37  the  people  of  Natchez  began  the  construction  of  a railroad 
of  five-foot  gauge  to  Jackson,  and  finished  it  some  forty  miles  on  a perfectly 
level  grade,  it  being  thought  at  that  time  that  a locomotive  could  not  overcome 
any  serious  grade.  It,  too,  was  stopped  by  the  financial  troubles  which  fol- 
lowed a period  of  inflation. 

It  has  already  been  said  that  during  the  decade  from  1830  to  1840  Natchez 
had  five  banks  of  issue  and  deposit.  During  the  same  period  some  twenty-five 
were  chartered  and  put  in  operation  in  other  places  in  the  State.  These  all 
discounted  largely,  while  very  few  of  them  had  any  considerable  line  of  deposits. 
A speculative  mania  had  seized  upon  the  people  of  Mississippi,  in  which  those 
of  Natchez  largely  shared.  A personal  endorsement,  generally  not  of  a gilt- 
edged  character,  was  all  that  was  necessary  to  secure  loans  at  easy  rates  from 
the  banks.  A redundancy  of  currency  naturally  produced  inflation  in  value  of 
real  estate,  and  plantations  and  slaves  were  bought  and  sold  at  extravagant 
prices.  This  continued  until  the  country  was  filled  with  irredeemable 


32 


THE  MEMENTO 


currency,  and  finally  the  bubble  burst,  bringing  ruin  upon  those  who  bought  at 
inflated  prices. 

It  may  be  imagined  that  the  business  of  the  city  received  a severe  check 
from  the  reduction  of  values  to  one-tenth  of  what  they  had  before  been.  Wide- 
spread ruin  was  the  result,  and  a blow  had  been  given  to  all  kinds  of  business, 
from  which,  under  the  most  favorable  circumstances,  it  would  have  been  hard 
to  recover. 

To  add  to  the  depression,  in  May,  1840,  Natchez  was  visited  by  one  of 
the  most  destructive  tornadoes  that  has  ever  occurred  in  this  country.  Its  busi- 
ness houses  were  leveled  with  the  ground,  and  the  whole  city  was  a wreck. 
From  this  blow,  under  the  depressed  condition  of  financial  matters,  the  city 
was  very  slow  in  recovering. 

The  planters,  in  the  mean  while,  had  formed  business  connections  in  dis- 
tant cities,  and  the  plantation  business  of  the  city  was  reduced  to  a minimum. 
Planting  was  found  to  be  the  most  profitable  business,  and  investments  were 
made  almost  entirely  in  cotton  planting,  the  planters  making  their  purchases 
almost  entirely  in  New  Orleans,  Cincinnati,  St.  Louis  and  other  distant  cities. 
All  the  banks  failed,  the  compress,  the  oil  mill,  the  cotton  factory,  and  even 
the  railroad  had  to  succumb  to  the  stringency  of  the  financial  condition. 

Thus  Natchez,  from  being  one  of  the  leading  towns  in  the  South,  became 
secondary  in  importance,  and  although  it  was  always  valued  as  a place  of  resi- 
dence, on  account  of  its  beautiful  location,  its  healthy  climate,  the  excellence  of 
its  public  school  system,  and  the  high  morality  that  characterized  its  people,  it 
lost  much  of  its  prestige,  and  the  war  coming  on  gave  a final  blow  to  its  old-time 
prosperity. 

When  the  war  was  closed  it  was  for  a while  thought  the  city  could  never 
recover  from  the  ruin  which  had  been  brought  upon  the  people  of  Natchez  and 
its  vicinity.  The  wealth  of  the  planters  was  gone,  and  those  who  had  lived  a 
life  of  luxury  and  elegance  found  themselves  reduced  to  poverty. 

But  the  war  which  had  spread  ruin  and  desolation  over  the  land,  had  left 
to  Natchez  a class  of  earnest,  enterprising  young  men  who  went  to  work  vigor- 
ously to  recruit  their  fortunes.  Their  service  in  the  army  had  accustomed 
them  to  work  and  hardened  their  sinews  and  prepared  their  hearts  for  the  strug- 
gle in  a more  peaceful  field,  for  an  object  not  less  dear  to  them,  the  comfort 
and  support  of  themselves  and  their  families.  With  brave  hearts  they  worked 
at  the  task  of  building  a new  prosperity  on  the  ruins  which  they  found  left  to 
them  by  the  unfortunate  contest  through  which  they  had  just  passed.  The 
results  have  been  such  as  the  most  sanguine  among  them  could  scarcely  have 
hoped  for. 

As  the  South  has  been  rehabilitated  under  the  changed  condition  of  our 
labor  system,  so  Natchez,  too,  has  put  on  a new  phase,  and  one  which  promises 
to  make  of  it  a more  prosperous  and  important  city  than  it  has  ever  been 
before.  Probably  no  locality  in  the  South  passed  through  the  era  of  recon- 
struction more  quietly  and  more  prudently  than  Natchez.  By  the  tact  of  its 
people  the  city  and  county  government  was  restored  to  its  intelligent  people 
without  a single  act  of  violence  or  one  drop  of  bloodshed.  Quietly  and  peace- 
fully the  control  of  public  affairs  was  regained,  and  the  class  of  population 
from  whom  danger  was  feared  acquiesced  in  the  action  of  our  prudent  citizens 
with  apparent  pleasure. 

With  the  restoration  of  the  city  and  county  governments  to  intelligent 
and  honest  hands,  one  of  the  first  things  was  the  construction  of  a railroad 
from  Natchez  to  Jackson,  a point  where  connection  was  formed  with  the  sys- 
tem of  railroads  extending  in  ever}'  direction  over  the  Union.  This  work  was 
done  by  home  capital  alone,  the  county  issuing  its  bonds,  which  were  taken  by 
citizens  of  the  county,  for  the  construction  of  this  road. 


OLD  AND  NEW  NA  TCHEZ. 


33 


This  gave  the  first  impulse  to  a spirit  of  enterprise  which  speedily  resulted 
in  the  erection  of  two  large  cotton  mills,  two  mills  for  the  manufacture  of  cotton- 
seed oil,  two  iron  foundries,  a cotton  compress,  an  elevator  from  the  river  to 
the  top  of  the  high  bluff  on  which  the  city  stands,  a street  railway,  and  a large 
number  of  minor  manufacturing  establishments. 

It  is  the  proud  boast  of  the  people  of  Natchez  that  it  has  depended  for  its 
improvements  solely  on  the  enterprise  of  its  own  people.  Its  isolated  position 
had  prevented  it  from  attracting  the  attention  of  the  capitalists  of  the  world, 
and  in  self-defense  it  was  compelled  to  be  self-dependent. 

The  spirited  action  of  its  people  has  now,  however,  drawn  attention  to  it, 
and  enterprises  are  now  being  projected  that  will  add  very  largely  to  its 
commercial  importance.  One  of  the  most  important  of  these  is  a railroad,  on 
which  work  will  begin  early  in  the  fall,  the  New  Orleans,  Natchez  & Fort 
Scott  railroad,  which  connects  Natchez  directly  with  the  Great  West,  and 
makes  it  a distributing  point  for  Northern  products  to  a very  large  portion  of 
the  Southwest. 

The  extension  of  the  Natchez,  Jackson  & Columbus  railroad  to  Columbus 
and  Decatur,  which  is  a probability  of  the  near  future,  will  make  one  of  the 
most  direct  outlets  to  the  Mississippi  river  for  the  rich  mineral  productions  of 
Alabama  and  Tennessee. 

A road  has  also  been  built  with  Natchez  capital  from  Vidalia,  La.,  to 
Trinity,  on  Black  river,  which  will  doubtless  develop  into  a Western  road 
through  Texas,  and  give  to  Natchez  the  benefit  of  one  of  the  best  trades  in  the 
South.  In  addition  to  these  roads,  a railroad  is  contemplated  due  east  from 
Natchez  through  the  finest  forests  of  pine  timber  in  the  United  States,  which 
when  built  would  bring  here  for  shipment  immense  quantities  of  lumber  for  the 
North  and  West. 

These,  and  other  railroad  enterprises  that  are  in  contemplation,  will  make 
of  this  city  a center  of  trade  that  will  be  surpassed  by  no  other  city  in  the 
South.  The  manufacturing  spirit  of  the  people  of  Natchez,  together  with  its 
facilities  for  carrying  on  industries  of  all  kinds,  points  to  the  conclusion  that  it 
will  become  one  of  the  most  important  of  Southern  manufacturing  cities. 

These  all  indicate  a future  for  Natchez  that  will  be  brilliant  and  useful. 
Its  beautiful  location,  its  delightful  climate,  its  phenomenal  healthfulness,  the 
fertility  of  the  country  which  surrounds  it,  the  generosity  and  hospitality  of  its 
people,  all  point  to  Natchez  and  its  vicinity  at  the  present  time,  as  it  did  in  the 
years  long  ago — the  garden  of  the  South,  the  favorite  land  of  the  emigrant  hunt- 
ing a home,  of  the  invalid  in  search  of  health,  and  of  the  denizen  of  the  bleak, 
cold  North  seeking  a genial  winter  home  in  a land  of  sunny  homes  and  generous 
hearts. 


I 


North  Side  of  Main  Street — Looking'  West. 


The  First  Natchez  Bank— In  the  Old  Agricultural  Bank  Building. 


The  Queen  City  of  the  South 


NATCHEZ,  MISSISSIPPI 

1887-88. 

Compiled  by  C.  N.  M’CORMICK. 


ITS  BEAUTIFUL  AND  HEALTHY  LOCATION,  THE  SUPERIOR  FACILITIES  FOR 
MANUFACTORIES  AND  THE  LOW  COST  OF  LIVING  JUSTIFY  THE 
ASSERTION  THAT  HEALTH,  HAPPINESS  AND  WEALTH 
AWAIT  ALL  GOOD  CITIZENS. 


ADAMS  COUNTY 

and  the  Neighboring  Territory, 


WITH  FERTILE  SOIL,  SUITABLE  FOR  THE  CULTIVATION  OF  ANY  CROP 
KNOWN  TO  THE  NORTH,  AND  MANY  UNKNOWN  THERE, 
CONTRIBUTE  TO  NATCHEZ’  PROSPERITY. 


36 


1HE  MEMENTO 


PREFACE. 


NOWLEDGE  of  the  idea  which  prevails  in  the  North,  East  and  West  that 


Southern  people  do  not  welcome  strangers  in  their  midst  has  prompted 
this  work.  It  has  been  the  aim  of  the  editor  to  present  unvarnished  facts  for 
the  consideration  of  those  into  whose  hands  this  pamphlet  may  fall,  and  we  send 
it  forth,  dedicating  it  to  the  welfare  of  the  merchants  who  have  so  generously 
aided  its  publication,  and  of  the  whole  country  it  represents. 

Many  of  the  articles  are  contributions  of  genuine  Southerners  who  are 
well  known  for  their  integrity,  their  familiarity  with  the  history  and  growth  of 
Natchez  and  the  country  tributary  thereto,  the  customs  and  feelings  of  the  peo- 
ple; and  what  they  have  to  say  may  be  relied  on.  We  return  thanks  to  the 
contributors  for  their  kind  assistance,  and  hope  they  may  live  to  see  our  beauti- 
ful city  reap  the  harvest  they  have  sown. 

The  Natchez  Daily  Democrat  and  corps  have  placed  us  under  obliga- 
tions for  innumerable  and  valuable  favors,  for  which  we  are  gratified  to  thus 
publicly  thank  them. 


Respectfully, 


COMPILER. 


OLD  AND  NEW  NA  TCHEZ. 


37 


THE  QUEEN  CITY  OF  THE  SOUTH. 


GOVERrqVTEfiT  AND  POLITICS. 


HE  Municipal  Government  of  Natchez  is  simple  and  inexpensive.  The 


Executive  and  Legislative  government  is  vested  in  a Mayor  and  Board  of 
eight  Aldermen.  Two  Aldermen  represent  each  ward,  and  they  are  elected  on 
alternate  years  for  a term  of  two  years  each. 

The  working  force  of  the  Board  is  constituted  by  committees  appointed 
by  the  Mayor. 

The  Board  elect  all  the  subordinate  officers,  City  Clerk,  Assessor,  Treasurer, 
Solicitor,  Marshal  and  Police  Force. 

The  Mayor  is  ex-officio  Recorder  and  Judge  of  the  Police  court,  and  has 
jurisdiction  in  all  cases  coming  under  the  city  ordinances. 

City  moneys  are  closely  looked  after  by  the  Finance  Committee  of  the  Board, 
and  the  Streets,  Fires,  Lights,  Water,  Health,  Hospital  and  other  committees, 
keep  the  corporation  in  a healthy  state  financially  and  physically. 

Annually,  in  August,  the  committees  make  up  their  budget  of  probable 
expenses  for  the  ensuing  year,  and  make  the  tax  levy  just  cover  it. 

The  city  debt  is  small,  only  $18,000,  in  warrants  which  are  receivable  at 
par  for  city  taxes,  so  there  is  no  necessity  for  a sinking  fund  ; consequently 
taxes  are  low. 

Politics  might  be  said  to  be  unknown  here,  the  tickets  rarely  if  ever  con- 
tain the  name  of  a party,  or,  if  they  do,  it  is  not  read.  The  people,  white  and 
black,  look  out  for  the  interest  of  the  city  and  vote  for  the  individual  they 
think  will  best  fill  the  position  to  which  he  aspires. 


The  public  schools  of  Natchez  are  one  of  its  interesting  features  ; and  the 
liberal  scale  upon  which  they  are  conducted  is  a striking  evidence  of  the  hold 
which  they  have  upon  the  hearts  of  her  citizens. 

Enrolled  in  these  schools  are  1,195  pupils,  distributed  as  follows:  White, 
males,  269  ; white,  females,  286  ; colored  males,  276  ; colored  females,  367. 
Twenty-three  teachers  are  employed  at  salaries  ranging  from  $40  to  $100  per 
month.  The  school  session  commences  October  1,  and  continues  nine  months, 
leaving  a vacation  during  the  months  of  July,  August  and  September.  Separate 
buildings  are  provided  for  the  two  races  ; these  are  large,  well  ventilated,  well 
lighted  and  are  located  in  different  quarters  of  the  city.  Play-grounds,  maps, 
blackboards,  abundance  of  fuel  in  winter,  and  everything  that  can  conduce  to 
the  moral,  intellectual  and  physical  welfare  of  the  children  are  liberally  pro- 
vided. The  school  for  whites  is  divided  into  twelve  departments  ; that  for 
blacks  into  eleven  departments.  Each  school  has  its  principal,  and  both  are 
under  the  supervision  of  a general  superintendent. 

The  school  for  whites  has  been  in  existence  more  than  forty  years.  Many 
of  our  most  substantial  citizens  are  indebted  to  it  alone  for  the  education  which 
has  made  them  influential  men  in  our  community,  and  to-day  it  is  as  thorough 
and  systematic  as  it  has  ever  been  in  the  past. 

There  are  also  a number  of  private  schools  in  the  city  for  small  children, 
and  one  or  two  normal  institutions,  where  the  higher  branches  are  taught. 

Natchez  College,  an  advanced  institution  for  colored  people,  is  located  in 
the  suburbs  of  the  city,  and  is  successfully  managed. 


OUR  SCHOOLiS. 

BY  PROF.  J.  W.  HENDERSON,  SUPERINTENDENT. 


33 


THE  MEMENTO 


At  Washington,  six  miles  away,  is  old  Jefferson  College,  one  of  the  oldest 
institutions  of  its  kind  in  the  United  States.  Jefferson  Davis,  the  famous  Pres- 
ident of  the  Confederacy,  was  a student  there,  and  associated  with  him  were 
some  of  the  greatest  statesmen  Mississippi  has  produced.  The  college  is  liber- 
ally endowed  and  gives  a thorough  course. 


OUR  INDUSTRIES. 

The  Natchez  Cotton  Mill,  which  occupies  nearly  a whole  block  in  the 
city,  with  handsome  buildings,  where  over  three  hundred  persons  are  employed, 
running  three  hundred  looms  and  ten  thousand  spindles,  where  over  $4,000 
per  month  are  paid  out  in  wages,  where  about  4,000  bales  of  cotton  are  con- 
sumed annually  in  making  about  5,000,000  yards  of  cloth. 

The  Rosalie  Mills,  another  industry  in  the  same  line,  where  over  3,000 
bales  of  cotton  are  annually  manufactured  into  towels,  blue  cloth  and  a variety 
of  other  grades  of  goods,  where  $3,000  are  monthly  paid  to  employes. 

Two  large  Cotton-seed  Oil  Mills,  employing  about  seventy-five  men  each. 
The  works  of  these  institutions  occupy  nearly  two  blocks,  and  are  a portion  of 
the  greatest  industrial  enterprise  ever  started  in  the  South. 

A Cotton  Compress,  where  bales  of  the  great  staple  are  placed  in  the  most 
compact  form  for  foreign  shipment.  This  new  enterprise  has  probably  done 
the  city  more  good  than  the  same  investment  ever  did  any  town.  It  has 
brought  this  year  over  15,000  bales  of  cotton  to  this  market  more  than  usual. 
It  has  made  this  a point  where  buyers  congregate,  and  the  prices  paid  during 
past  season  have  compared  most  favorably  with  New  Orleans. 

Two  Brass  and  Iron  Foundries,  one  of  them  an  extensive  institution,  em- 
ploying a large  number  of  skilled  mechanics  and  entering  extensively  into  the 
manufacture  of  steam  boilers  and  engines. 

Two  Cotton  Gins  of  large  capacity,  using  steam  power,  and  employing 
many  hands  each. 

A Batting  Mill,  where  the  lint  from  the  cotton  seed  is  manufactured  into 
neat  rolls  of  cotton  batting  which  are  shipped  North  to  be  used  in  making  com- 
forts to  protect  the  people  from  King  Frost  on  cold  nights. 

Two  extensive  Dumber  Mills,  supplying  the  demand  for  building  material, 
in  native  woods. 

An  Ice  Factory,  with  a capacity  of  eighteen  tons  every  twenty-four  hours. 

The  Bluff  City  Railway  Company,  with  wharf  and  incline  to  the  hilltops 
and  tracks  through  the  city,  for  the  distribution  of  freight,  is  a convenient  and 
paying  institution  and  employs  usually  about  forty  men. 

A Stained  Glass  Works  is  about  ready  to  open  business,  and  is  the  first  of 
its  kind  in  the  South.  It  is  started  by  two  of  our  most  energetic  young  men, 
associated  with  a gentleman  from  the  North,  and  its  prospects  are  of  the  finest. 

A Street  Railway  traverses  the  city  from  the  steamboat  landing  to  a park 
two  and  a half  miles  away  in  the  eastern  suburbs  of  the  city,  and  gives  employ- 
ment to  ten  or  twelve  men. 

The  manner  of  receiving  our  coal  supply  makes  this  a great  industry. 
The  coal  comes  here  from  the  upper  Ohio  in  barges  and  has  to  be  wheeled  out 
on  the  bank  in  barrows,  which  gives  employment  to  one  hundred  men,  at  least, 
six  months  in  the  year. 

Two  Brick  Yards,  each  owning  extensive  grounds  and  manufacturing  first- 
class  goods  at  reasonable  prices,  are  among  the  great  wage-paying  industries  of 
our  city. 

Two  Mineral-water  Bottling  Establishments,  with  a capacity  each  of  180 
dozen  bottles. 

Three  Manufacturing  Confectioners,  two  of  whom  make  1200  pounds  of 
candy  per  day,  each,  and  give  employment  to  eight  or  ten  men. 


OLD  AND  NEW  NATCHEZ. 


39 


A Meal  Mill  in  connection  with  one  of  the  gins  does  the  local  grinding. 

There  are  also  in  course  of  construction  a fine  system  of  Water  Works  and 
Sewerage,  which  will  give  employment  to  a great  many  hands  this  year,  and  put 
about  $75,000  in  circulation  in  our  city. 

The  Gas  Works  is  an  old  established  concern,  and  affords  an  illumination 
superior  to  that  of  many  larger  cities. 

The  Daily  Democrat  justly  comes  under  the  head  of  our  industries.  It 
is  a member  of  the  Associated  Press,  and  gives  the  latest  telegraphic  news  in 
time  for  breakfast  every  morning  except  Monday.  It  gives  emplo3?ment  to 
about  fifteen  men. 

That  our  people  favor  industrial  ventures  is  evident  from  the  fact  that 
every  dollar  invested  in  those  just  enumerated  is  the  money  of  Natchez  people. 
But  there  are  still  many  things  needed  which  our  people  have  not  the  money 
at  present  to  proceed  with.  To  the  people  of  the  North  therefore  is  this  invi- 
tation extended:  “ Come  over  into  Macedonia  and  help  us!  ” 

COTTON  AND  MERCHANTS’  EXCHANGE. 

On  May  26,  1886,  our  business  men,  realizing  the  benefits  to  be  derived 
from  co-operative  organization,  secured  a charter  from  the  State  of  Mississippi 
and  established  “The  Natchez  Cotton  and  Merchants’  Exchange, ’’  officered  by 
the  following  leading  business  men  : Joseph  N.  Carpenter,  President;  A.  _G. 

Campbell  Vice-President;  Simon  Mayer,  Secretary;  Theo.  V.  Wensel,  Treas- 
urer. The  Board  of  Directors  are  Chas.  T.  Chamberlain,  Geo.  T.  Payne,  F. 
A.  Dicks,  Henry  Frank  and  Isaac  Dowenburg. 

Their  headquarters  are  fitted  up  in  modest  but  comfortable  style  at  the 
corner  of  Main  and  Commerce  streets,  the  heart  of  the  city,  and  there  they 
receive  daily  every  half  hour  the  market  reports  of  the  world,  which  are  posted 
on  the  board  for  the  edification  of  members. 

Their  organization  and  the  building  of  our  large  cotton  compress  last  year 
brought  a flood  of  cotton  buyers,  who  competed  successfully,  with  New  Orleans, 
and  induced  an  increase  in  cotton  receipts  of  over  20,000  bales. 

The  expenses  of  the  institution  are  light,  and  the  benefits  have  proven  so 
great,  with  such  prospects  of  even  a better  future,  that  it  is  no  longer  an  experi- 
ment, but  is  one  of  the  solidest  organizations  in  the  city. 

THE  NATCHEZ  CHUB. 

This  social  organization,  was  permanently  instituted  on  March  5,  1883, 
by  election  of  D.  G.  Aldrich,  President ; John  Rawle,  Vice-President  ; Richard 
Holmes,  Secretary  and  Treasurer,  who  have  continued  to  fill  same  position  by 
annual  election. 

The  club  embraces  in  its  membership  about  seventy-five  citizens  from  the 
leading  representatives  of  its  various  trades  and  professions. 

Their  rooms  are  centrally  located,  with  pleasing  inner  and  outer  surround- 
ings, and  afford  agreeable  relaxation  from  the  cares  and  toils  of  business,  by 
presenting  to  its  members  innocent  amusement,  as  well  as  an  extensive  col- 
lection of  daily,  weekly  and  monthly  publications. 

Its  hospitality  to  visiting  strangers  is  in  keeping  with  the  world-renowned 
reputation  of  the  city  whose  name  it  bears. 

REALi  ESTATE  AND  RENTS. 

Natchez  is  on  a boom,  and  has  been  for  several  years — not  a fictitious  boom 
gotten  up  by  big  mineral  excitements,  but  a steady  natural  improvement, 
caused  by  the  outside  world  discovering  that  on  the  bluffs  overlooking  the  great 


40 


THE  MEMENTO 


Mississippi,  stands  a beautiful  city  just  far  enough  South  for  a pleasant  home, 
just  high  enough  to  insure  health,  and  surrounded  by  a fertile  country  which 
insures  good  living.  There  are  a few  people  here,  who,  in  a spirit  of  love  and 
veneration  for  the  old  homestead  have  placed  a fictitious  price  on  their  land,  but 
there  is  plenty  of  land  to  be  had  at  a convenient  distance  from  the  city  at  from 
$3  to  $20  per  acre,  and  improved  land  at  that.  Town  lots  can  be  purchased 
on  good  terms  at  reasonable  prices. 

Rents  for  dwellings  in  Natchez  are,  like  they  are  in  other  growing  cities, 
rather  high ; houses  of  four  or  five  rooms  near  the  center  of  the  city  rent  for 
about  $20  per  month  with  a proportionate  increase  in  houses  with  more  rooms. 
The  general  expenses  of  living,  fuel  etc.,  are  not  so  great  as  in  the  North  and 
East,  which,  I think,  more  than  makes  up  the  difference  in  rent. 

ADAJVIS  COUNTY. 

BY  ALLISON  H.  FOSTER,  CLERK  OF  THE  CHANCERY  COURT  TWENTY-ODD  YEARS. 

To  write  of  Adams  county,  its  history  of  the  past,  its  present  activity  and 
worth  and  its  future  prospects  of  greater  wealth  and  grandeur,  is  a pleasant 
duty. 

In  the  distant  past,  when  the  stillness  of  nature  was  only  broken  by  the 
weird  chant,  or  echoing,  resounding  whoop  of  the  red  man,  as  he  roamed  at 
will  over  the  hills  and  valleys  of  our  country;  or  when  a softer  spirit  moved 
him,  to  woo,  win  and  wed,  the  dusky  maiden  of  the  forest,  under  the  shade  of 
the  majestic  oak,  in  whose  enfolding  branches  nestled  the  gentle  dove,  an  all- 
wise Deity,  and  bounteous  nature,  had  generously  endowed  this  favored  spot, 
with  many  choice  gifts. 

Advancing  civilization,  in  its  many  and  just  conquests,  long  since  forced 
the  Indian  with  his  untutored  mind  to  seek  shelter  and  erect  his  wigwam  to 
the  far  West  and  nearer  the  setting  sun.  “White  Apple  Village,’’  in  this 
county,  the  once  cherished  home  of  mighty  chiefs  and  tribes,  is  now  traced  and 
recognized  only  by  the  peaceful  pursuits  of  the  sturdy  yeoman,  as  he  follows 
the  plow  and  in  due  season  gathers  in  the  fruits,  the  natural  reward  of  his 
honest  labor. 

Adams  county  fronts  nearly  one  hundred  miles  on  the  Mississippi  river. 
The  soil  is  alluvial,  and.  where  not  permitted  with  constant  tillage  and  without 
return  to  the  soil  to  become  worn  and  thin,  is  exceedingly  rich  and  productive. 
The  famous  valley  of  the  Nile  is  no  richer  in  soil  than  the  bottom  lands  of 
Adams  county. 

The  topography  of  our  county  is  varied,  in  some  places  rolling,  while  in 
others  we  find  plateaus  and  rising  or  hilly  ground.  The  chief  product  of  our 
county  is  cotton;  but  four  other  crops  can  be  raised  annually  on  the  same 
ground.  There  is  not  an  acre  of  land  in  the  county  that,  if  properly  culti- 
vated, will  not  return  annually  a cash  value  of  fifty  dollars;  and  this  land  can 
now  be  purchased  from  $3  to  $20  per  acre. 

The  climate  here  is  delightful,  trees  in  foliage  and  flowers  blooming  in 
profusion  in  the  months  of  February  and  March.  Think  of  it,  O denizens  of 
the  congealed  North  and  East!  and  envy  must  for  a time  enthrone  itself  within 
your  breasts.  We  contemplate  you,  as  snowed-in,  ice-bound,  cold  and  freezing, 
while  we,  with  doors  and  windows  open,  are  inhaling  the  perfume  of  budding 
flowers  and  listening  to  the  songs  of  the  mocking  bird. 

Adams  county  invites  you  to  join  in  the  triumphal  march  of  the  emanci- 
pated New  South.  Her  people  are  intelligent,  courteous,  industrious  and 
refined,  and  all  who  come  to  partake  of  her  fortunes  will  be  met  with  cordial 
greetings  and  neither  asked  nor  influenced  concerning  their  political  or  religious 
fealty  or  allegiance.  Good  men  and  good  citizens  alone  are  wanted,  and  for 
such  we  have  abundant  room  and  a hearty,  generous  and  honest  welcome. 


OLD  AND  NE W NATCHEZ. 


41 


The  early  boyhood  days  of  the  writer  having  been  spent  in  the  place  of  his 
nativity,  the  old  “Granite”  State,  and  he,  therefore,  being  somewhat  familiar 
with  the  mode  of  farming  and  customs  of  the  people  both  North  and  South,  is 
constrained  to  assert  that  the  intelligent,  frugal,  industrious  Northern  farmer,  if 
transplanted  to  this  portion  of  the  South,  and  should  exercise  here  like  habits  of 
thrift,  industry  and  economy  as  at  the  North,  would,  in  the  brief  period  of  ten 
years  or  less,  awake  to  the  pleasing  fact  that  his  possessions  were  abundantly 
sufficient  to  enable  him  to  enjoy  the  rest  of  his  days  independent  of  manual 
labor  for  a support. 

No  better  field  presents  itself  for  the  establishment  of  manufactories,  and 
especially  of  wood  work,  than  Natchez  and  Adams  county,  as  timber  of  the 
best  quality  and  of  many  species  abounds  in  almost  endless  quantity,  right  at 
our  doors. 

The  future  of  Natchez  and  Adams  county  is  assured  and  bright,  and  chief 
among  the  jewels  that  adorn  and  crown  them  is  the  love  of  country,  confidence 
and  determination  within  the  hearts  of  the  good  people  to  bend  every  energy  to 
the  advancement  and  weal  of  both.  Southward  the  “Star  of  Empire”  is  at  last 
seen;  it  is  making  rapid  progress  in  this  direction,  and  is  received  by  the  New 
South  with  open  arms,  brave,  honest  and  manly  hearts,  and  welcome,  thrice 
welcome  to  our  shores. 

Lands  here  are  now  cheap,  but  are  fast  becoming  equalized  in  value  with 
those  in  other  portions  of  our  common  country. 

Adams  county  invites  a fair,  yes,  critical,  inspection  of  the  many  advantages 
she  presents  to  those  seeking  homes  in  the  South,  or  safe  and  profitable  invest- 
ments; and  conscious  she  is  that  the  verdict  of  “ the  stranger  within  our  gates  ” 
will  not  be  adverse  to  her  present  worth  or  future  greatness. 

Far  be  it  from  me  to  misrepresent;  consequently  I affirm  that  “milk  and 
hone}'”  are  obtained  here  only  as  the  certain,  just  and  merited  reward  for 
manly  enterprise,  devotion  to  duty,  and  honest  industry. 


COUNTY  BOARD  Op  SUPERVISORS. 

BY  MAJ.  THOMAS  GRAFTON. 

It  is  very  gratifying  to  us  to  write  of  the  conservative,  wise,  and  intelligent 
management  of  county  affairs,  by  our  Board  of  Supervisors. 

For  some  years  after  the  war  things  obtained,  under  the  chaotic  condi- 
tion of  our  county  then  existing,  that  were  neither  equitable,  just  or  compli- 
mentary to  our  ability  and  inalienable  right  of  self-government.  Happily,  those 
things  are  of  the  past.  In  1875  the  good  citizens  of  our  county,  irrespective  of 
party  or  color,  united  and  placed  in  power  men  of  well  known  ability  and 
integrity,  and  men  who  regarded  the  county’s  interests  as  their  own.  Results 
plainly  demonstrate  the  wisdom  of  the  people’s  choice.  From  the  legacy  of 
debt,  profligacy  and  burdensome  taxation  handed  down,  our  Board  of  Super- 
visors have  so  eminently  managed  the  people’s  trust  confided  to  their  care  tha-t 
long  years  ago,  order  from  chaos,  economy  from  profligacy,  and  minimum  tax- 
ation from  that  bordering  upon  absolute  confiscation,  has  pre-eminently  marked 
their  faithful  and  ofttimes  self-sacrificing  labors. 

Some  changes  in  the  Board  that  first  entered  official  life  in  January,  1887, 
have,  by  death,  resignation  and  retirement  been  made;  but  the  people  feel  justly 
proud  of  the  good  work  of  all  that  have  been  connected  with  it  during  that 
period.  With  good  roads,  bridges,  and  low  taxation,  our  people  are  contented. 

The  gentlemen  composing  our  Board  of  Supervisors,  are  the  Hon.  Oliver 
N.  Wilds,  President;  James  H.  Rowan,  H.  B.  Vaughan,  John  C.  Stowers  and 
A.  P.  Williams.  Mr.  Wilds  has  been  on  the  Board  twelve,  Mr.  Rowan  ten, 
and  the  others  a lesser  number  of  years.  Mr.  Williams  is  a colored  man. 


42 


THE  MEMENTO 


The  names  of  other  members  during  said  period,  and  not  now  connected 
with  the  Board,  are  the  Hon.  T.  C.  Pollock  (-deceased),  late  President,  and 
Geo.  M.  Marshall,  Daniel  F.  Ashford  and  Alex  Smart  (also  a colored  man). 
To  the  names,  memory  and  work  of  all,  and  to  our  present  Board,  the  welcome 
plaudit  goes  out:  “Well  done,  thou  good  and  faithful  servants.” 


HflCK  Rates. 

CITY  ORDINANCE. 

For  conveying  a passenger  not  exceeding  one  mile,  50  cents. 

For  conveying  a passenger  over  one  mile,  75  cents. 

After  10  o’clock  at  night,  double  rates. 

For  the  use  by  the  day  of  any  hack  or  other  vehicle  drawn  by  two  horses 
or  other  animals,  with  one  or  more  passengers,  $ 8.00 . 

For  the  use  of  any  hack  or  vehicle,  with  one  or  more  passengers,  with  the 
privilege  of  going  from  place  to  place,  and  stopping  as  often  as  may  be 
requested,  for  the  first  hour,  $2.00. 

For  each  succeeding  hour,  $1.00. 

For  attending  funerals,  $3.00. 

The  following  rates  shall  be  charged  by  the  owner  or  driver  of  any  wagon 
for  the  transportation  of  baggage,  as  follows,  viz.: 

For  transporting  each  and  every  trunk,  not  exceeding  one  mile,  25  cents. 

For  transporting  each  and  every  trunk  any  distance  over  one  mile,  50  cents. 

lj®“Hack  owners  or  drivers  are  required  to  keep  these  rules  posted  in  a 
conspicuous  place  within  their  vehicles. 

All  hotels  and  boarding  houses  are  within  a mile  of  steamboat  landings 
and  depots. 

TRUCK  FARMING  AND  GARDENING. 

The  possibilities  in  this  branch  of  agriculture  are  without  limit;  the  local 
market  is  good  and  the  shipping  facilities  by  river  and  rail  are  excellent.  The 
following  extract  from  a local  paper  will  best  illustrate  the  advantages  offered 
by  our  climate  and  soil: 

1 ‘ An  instance  of  the  profitable  returns  from  truck  farming  and  rotation  of 
crops  has  been  brought  to  our  notice  recently.  Mr.  Isaac  Friedler  made  a 
planting  in  January  of  Early  Rose  potatoes  on  a piece  of  land  near  town, 
about  one  hundred  and  fifty  feet  square,  from  which  he  gathered  twenty-five 
barrels  of  as  fine  potatoes  as  can  be  produced  anywhere.  The  barrels  used  by 
him  held  three  bushels,  and  putting  the  price  at  one  dollar  per  bushel,  which 
can  readily  be  realized,  the  yield  brings  him  seventy-five  dollars.  The  cost  of 
producing,  including  the  price  of  the  potatoes  planted,  did  not  exceed  five  dol- 
lars, and  since  taking  off  the  crop,  in  April,  he  has  planted  the  same  ground  in 
cotton,  and  will,  with  favorable  seasons,  make  a full  crop.” 

The  above  is  not  a rare  case  of  production  but  was  the  result  of  only  mod- 
erate attention;  and  the  same  conditions  will  apply  to  any  other  crop  planted  in 
the  garden  or  truck  patch. 

A friend,  who  lives  in  the  southern  part  of  this  county,  brought  the  writer 
a basket  of  strawberries  on  the  first  of  May,  which  had  been  hurriedly  picked, 
just  before  starting  to  the  city,  without  sorting  for  large  ones,  and  nine  of 
them  filled  a pint  measure.  The  gentleman  informed  us  that  he  had  paid  no 
special  attention  to  his  plants  farther  than  to  get  good  ones  and  protect  them 
from  weeds  and  grass. 

Blackberries  and  dewberries  grow  wild  in  almost  inexhaustible  quantities, 
and  have  been  selling  on  the  streets  during  the  past  three  months  at  ten  cents 
per  gallon. 


OLD  AND  NEW  NATCHEZ. 


43 


Sweet  potatoes,  tomatoes,  peas,  beans,  etc. , are  in  their  natural  element 
here,  and  from  two  to  four  finely  matured  crops  are  produced  on  the  same 
ground  every  season. 

Help  is  cheap  and  general  expenses  are  light,  while  the  gardener  has  the 
fixing  of  his  own  prices  for  his  products,  for,  if  he  cannot  get  his  prices  here, 
he  can  conveniently  ship  to  greater  markets. 

FARMS  AND  FARMING. 

BY  MAJ.  THOMAS  GRAFTON. 

The  variety  of  opportunities  and  advantages  offered  by  this  country  is  so 
great  that  it  is  almost  impossible  to  give  a coherent  idea  of  them  in  a work 
like  this,  but  if,  by  enumerating  a few,  an  investigation  of  the  claims  of  the 
South  can  be  secured,  we  have  nothing  to  fear  for  our  future. 

The  topography  of  the  country  is  very  similar  to  that  in  Northern  Indiana 
.and  Central  Ohio.  It  is  well  drained,  well  watered  and  the  soil  is  a rich  alluvial 
deposit  of  wonderful  depth  and  strength,  and  is  well  adapted  for  any  crops  raised 
in  the  North,  East  or  West.  The  warm  winters  are  not  good  for  fall  wheat, 
but  aside  from  that  any  crop  can  be  profitably  cultivated.  Mississippi  produced 
last  year  25,765,000  bushels  of  corn,  3,962,000  bushels  of  oats,  173,000  bushels 
of  wheat,  hundreds  of  thousands  of  tons  of  timothy,  clover  and  other  grasses. 
All  grasses  thrive  well  here,  and  the  main  question  with  the  farmers  has  been 
to  discover  which  contains  the  greatest  nutriment.  The  following  comparative 
analysis  is  b}^  Prof.  Phares,  of  one  of  Mississippi’s  agricultural  colleges: 

Japan  Clover  (Tespedeza  Striata)  Hay,  71.85  per  cent,  nutriment;  Red 
Clover  Hay  57  per  cent,  nutriment;  Orchard  Grass,  52  per  cent,  nutriment;  Pea, 
56  per  cent,  nutriment;  Vetches,  49  per  cent,  nutriment;  Timothy,  48.50  per 
■cent,  nutriment;  Blue  Grass,  48  per  cent,  nutriment. 

In  addition  to  being  the  most  nutritious,  the  Tespedeza  is  considered  the 
strongest  fertilizer  known,  and  a vigorous,  hearty  plant,  which  yields  well  in 
either  wet  or  dry  seasons. 

The  system  of  farming,  as  followed  by  the  darkies,  has  gotten  this  country 
into  bad  repute  so  far  as  agriculture  goes,  but  a visit  and  personal  inspection  by 
the  average  Northern  farmer  will  convince  him  of  the  great  error.  Take,  for 
instance,  our  short  winters,  instead  of  having  to  feed  stock  seven  or  eight 
months  on  grain  and  hay,  we  feed  one  month  on  hay,  and  many  do  not  feed  at 
all.  Our  summers  are  long  but  not  excessively  hot,  there  is  a pleasant  gulf 
breeze  at  times  and  the  nights  are  almost  invariably  cool  and  delightful.  Our 
altitude  is  such  that  malaria  is  unknown.  The  price  of  our  land  is  low,  from 
three  to  twenty  dollars  per  acre.  Good  roads  exist  all  the  year  round.  Our 
educational  and  religious  facilities  are  old  established.  Our  people  are  not  only 
willing,  but  anxious,  for  thrifty  farmers  to  come  among  them,  and  by  these 
presents  do  guarantee  them  as  good  treatment  and  as  good  a living,  more  easily 
made  than  in  the  much-boomed  West. 


FRUIT  CULTURE. 

In  days  gone  by  no  country  was  more  justly  celebrated  for  its  fine  fruit 
than  Southwest  Mississippi.  During  the  war  the  orchards  were  neglected,  and 
many  were  totally  obliterated  from  the  face  of  the  earth,  and  when  peace  once 
more  reigned  the  people  had  to  plant  something  that  promised  quicker  returns 
than  fruit  trees.  After  a few  years  however,  they  began  to  set  out  young  trees, 
and  now  there  are  to  be  found  many  nice  orchards  of  apples,  peaches,  pears, 
plums,  quinces,  apricots,  pomegranates,  olives,  figs,  pecans,  grapes,  etc.,  but 


44 


THE  MEMENTO 


there  is  room  for  many  more  and  a certainty  of  profitable  return  to  their  owners 
for  the  trouble  of  planting.  All  fruit  ripens  early,  and  there  is  a fortune  in  a very 
few  years  to  the  man  who  ships  to  the  North.  It  is  a mistaken  idea  that  the 
majority  of  the  Northern  people  have  about  this  as  a fruit  country.  Fresh  figs 
are  the  only  fruit  which  can  not  be  shipped  as  they  come  from  the  tree ; in  that 
regard  they  are  like  a persimmon  and  must  be  dried  before  shipment.  The  fig 
is  considered  the  most  wholesome  of  fruits,  one  can  eat  all  he  wants  without 
the  slightest  danger,  and  as  they  grow  so  abundantly  here  we  guarantee  any 
and  all  who  come  here  in  June  and  July  all  they  can  eat  fresh  from  the 
trees ; or,  with  cream  and  sugar,  for  breakfast,  they  can  not  fail  to  give  even  a 
dyspeptic  an  appetite,  and  aid  in  restoring  his  health  and  consequently  his  good 
nature.  Fruit  begins  to  ripen  about  the  first  of  April,  and  continues  until  late 
in  the  fall,  and  with  anything  like  proper  care  the  little  enemies,  so  commonly 
known  in  the  North  are  entirely  avoided  here. 

Melons  we  need  not  mention,  for  the  reason  that  the  darky,  the  mule,  and 
the  melon  are  so  thoroughly  associated  in  the  minds  of  the  Northern  people, 
that  where  one  exists  they  know  the  others  certainly  do,  and  also  for  the  reason 
that  if  we  were  to  tell  the  whole  truth  you  wouldn’t  believe  it ; so  we  send  you 
this  invitation  to  come  and  see  for  yourselves. 

LilVE  STOCK- 

To  the  stock  farmer  this  country  offers  extraordinary  inducements  over  any 
other.  First,  the  climate;  second,  the  luxuriant  pasture;  third,  the  fine  water; 
fourth,  the  market;  fifth,  the  slight  cost  of  raising  an  animal. 

The  even  temperature  of  Southwest  Mississippi  is  destined  to  be  her 
crowning  glory,  for  with  it  comes  all  the  other  blessings — health,  wealth  and 
happiness.  A few  days  in  each  winter  the  temperature  falls  to  about  15  degrees 
above  zero,  and  very  few  days  in  summer  is  it  above  90. 

Our  land  is  splendidly  adapted  to  meadow  and  pasture  grasses,  which 
grow  with  such  rapidity  that  close-cropping  animals,  like  sheep,  cannot  keep 
them  down. 

Fine  water,  one  of  the  great  essentials  for  stock  raising,  is  here  in  abund- 
ance, in  wells,  cisterns  and  running  streams. 

The  market  facilities  are  of  the  very  best,  with  plenty  of  rail  and  river 
facilities  to  insure  low  freight  rates. 

With  all  the  above  points  settled,  the  general  cost  of  raising  stock  is 
reduced  to  the  minimum.  In  the  North  and  West,  I believe,  the  cost  for  grain 
to  feed  each  head  of  cattle  through  a winter  is  about  $25.  Here  no  grain  is  fed 
at  all.  There  are  two  or  three  breeders  of  fine  cattle  and  horses  near  this  city, 
and  in  February  this  year  I visited  their  farms  and  found  every  animal  sleek 
and  fat,  and  was  informed  that  they  had  never  seen  any  grain  in  their  troughs 
in  their  lives — nothing  but  the  rich,  juicy  hay,  produced  right  on  the  farms. 

For  hogs  there  is  no  better  place  in  the  world.  All  the  ground  crops  that 
are  raised  anywhere  grow  abundantly  here,  and  the  mast  includes  acorns, 
beech-nuts  and  other  fattening  tree  fruits. 

Sheep  are  a.  remarkable  success  here.  The  writer  spent  the  greater  part 
of  his  life  in  the  North,  and  knows  the  anxiety  with  which  the  farmer  cares 
for  his  sheep;  and  to  be  a successful  sheep  farmer  there  requires  capital  with 
which  to  house  them  properly,  for,  when  a sheep  makes  up  his  mind  that  he  is 
tired  of  bad  weather,  he  is  going  to  die,  and  it  is  useless  to  try  to  save  him. 
Here  the  climate  is  especially  suited  to  them;  all  the  shelter  they  care  for  is 
given  by  a rick  of  corn  fodder  for  them  to  pass  under  and  browse  at  until  a cold 
rain  is  oyer.  Only  once  in  about  seven  years  do  we  have  snow,  and  there 
never  has  been  more  than  one  snow  storm  during  a winter,  and  that  does  not 
last  two  days. 


OLD  AND  NEW  NATCHEZ. 


45 


Considerable  attention  is  now  being  devoted  to  fine  breeds  of  cattle,  and  in 
every  instance  those  brought  from  the  North  have  been  improved.  The  natives 
here  read  with  astonishment  last  winter  the  telegrams  from  the  West  telling  of 
cattle  perishing  in  the  storms.  They  cannot  conceive  how  the  weather  can  be 
severe  enough  to  kill  stock,  and  yet  stockmen  be  induced  to  remain  in  that 
country . 

Fine  horses  are,  and  always  have  been,  the  pride  of  Southern  people,  and 
although  they  are  pretty  severe  in  their  usage  sometimes,  it  is  a common  thing 
to  see  a span  of  high -headed  twenty-y  ear-olds  dashing  along  the  streets  like 
colts. 

Everything  about  this  country  is  conducive  to  long  life  to  both  man  and 
beast,  and  the  only  reason  that  it  has  not  been  filled  up  long  ago  is  that  the 
people  of  the  North  have  not  known  its  value. 


OUR  JlEALiTfl. 

BY  J.  C.  FRKNCH,  M.  D. 

The  object  of  this  article  is  to  set  forth  the  advantages  of  the  City  of  Natchez 
and  County  of  Adams  as  health  and  pleasure  resorts  at  all  seasons  of  the  year. 
It  is  written  at  the  request  of  the  publisher  of  this  work,  and  in  answer  to  many 
letters  received  by  the  writer  from  friends  and  acquaintances  in  Southeastern 
Indiana  and  Ohio. 

My  personal  experience  in  this  country  is  as  follows:  On  November  io, 
1885,  I,  with  my  family,  landed  in  Natchez,  leaving  our  old  home,  (Greens- 
burg,  Ind.,)  contrary  to  the  advice  of  our  relatives  and  friends,  who  told  us  that 
we  Northern  people  would  not  be  welcome  here,  that  we  would  be  ostracised 
from  society,  that  no  one  would  want  my  professional  services,  that  we  would 
have  malaria  and  yellow  fever  and  die  ; that  Northern  people  could  not  live  in 
this  climate,  etc.  During  my  residence  of  about  three  years  in  Natchez,  I have 
found  my  friends  were  mistaken.  In  the  first  place,  we  were  welcomed  by  a 
people  than  whom  there  are  no  more  sociable,  hospitable,  sympathizing  and 
generous  anywhere ; a people  who  ever  have  a hearty  welcome  for  all  good 
citizens. 

Now  about  our  health:  The  day  we  left  Indiana  my  wife  weighed  1 1 6 
pounds;  to-day  she  weighs  140  pounds.  During  the  cold,  damp  winter  season 
in  Indiana,  she  had  a continuous,  distressing  cough  ; she  now  has  no  cough 
either  winter  or  summer,  and  enjoys  perfect  health.  My  weight  was  135  pounds; 
to-day  I “knock  the  beam’’  at  170  pounds.  My  two  children,  as  well  as  Mrs. 
French  and  myself,  have  never  been  sick  a day.  We  are  living  monuments 
to  the  virtue  of  the  climate  of  Natchez.  The  foregoing  is  a true  statement  of 
facts,  and  I hope  will  convince  some  of  their  mistaken  opinion  of  this  delightful 
country. 

Natchez,  destined  to  be  the  metropolis  of  this  section  of  the  country,  is  a 
live  city  of  magnificent  expectations  and  over  11,000  inhabitants.  It  is  a well- 
known,  settled  principle  of  economy,  that  in  order  to  secure  the  permanent 
growth  of  a city,  every  citizen  and  every  department  of  the  city’s  government 
should  work  together  in  perfect  harmony  and  union.  This  principle  has  been 
enforced  here,  and  the  existing  circumstances  are  all  favorable  to  a growing  and 
substantial  boom. 

Natchez  is  recorded  the  second  healthiest  city  in  the  United  States — New 
Haven,  Connecticut,  taking  first  honors. 

What  makes  it  so  healthy  ? First,  its  high  elevation  ; second,  its  natural 
drainage  ; third,  its  spring-like  climate  ; fourth,  its  pure  drinking  water. 
These  four  advantages  we  will  consider  separately,  and  leave  }?ou  to  compare 
with  other  places. 


46 


THE  MEMENTO 


Its  High  Elevation. — Many  people  in  the  North  and  Northwest  have  the 
opinion  that  all  the  territory  south  of  the  Mason  and  Dixon  line  is  a breeder 
and  feeder  of  malaria.  This  is  as  true  of  a portion  of  the  South  as  it  is  of  the 
Wabash  section  of  Indiana.  The  swamp  country  of  Mississippi  and  Louisiana 
is  full  of  malaria  at  certain  seasons  of  the  year,  and  it  is  very  hazardous  for  a 
person  not  acclimated,  to  even  visit  that  section  during  such  periods.  The 
only  malarial  diseases  Natchez  physicians  have  to  contend  with  are  in  people 
from  the  swamp,  who  come  over  to  the  hills  annually  for  medical  treatment, 
and  such  cases  are  almost  invariably  successfully  coped  with.  The  germs  of 
malarial  poison  travel  to  a height  of  about  sixty  feet  and  are  then  dissipated. 
The  country  on  the  North,  East  and  South  sides  of  the  City  of  Natchez  is  hilly, 
and  Natchez  is  justly  called  the  “ Bluff  City.”  Our  altitude  is  such  that  we 
constantly  enjoy  cool,  refreshing  breezes  from  the  Gulf,  making  the  evenings 
and  nights  very  pleasant  even  in  midsummer. 

Natural  Drainage. — The  centre  and  sidewalks  of  each  street  are  about 
two  feet  higher  than  the  gutters  on  either  side,  with  a natural  decline  toward 
the  river,  and  all  water  is  carried  at  once  to  that  stream.  Stagnant  water  ponds 
are  as  much  unknown  to  Natchez  as  are  ice  and  snow  in  winter.  After  the 
heaviest  rainfall,  in  twenty-four  hours,  the  streets  are  dry.  No  artificial  means 
could  improve  our  natural  drainage. 

Its  Spring-like  Climate.— Here  the  sunshine  is  an  every  day  occurrence. 
It  is  neither  too  hot  nor  too  cold,  the  thermometer  rarely  going  above  90  degrees 
in  summer  and  never  below  zero  in  winter,  making  the  dry,  non-poisonous 
atmosphere  so  essentially  necessary  to  the  relief  and  cure  of  those  suffering  with 
pulmonary  and  bronchial  diseases.  Consumptives,  from  the  cold  Northwestern 
climate,  can,  in  many  instances,  be  cured,  and  always  have  life  prolonged  by  a 
residence  in  this  climate.  Consumption  seldom  originates  here,  except  among 
the  negro  population,  and  then  the  cause  can  invariably  be  traced  to  neglect  and 
improper  care. 

Our  Pure  Drinking  Water. — It  is  well  known  that  cholera  and  kindred 
diseases  are  invariably  traced  to  impure  well  water.  Rainwater,  the  purest  of  all 
waters,  is  used  by  every  family  in  this  city.  Large  and  carefully  constructed 
cisterns  are  built,  and  are  filled  during  our  rainy  or  winter  season  with  a supply 
sufficient  to  last  through  the  summer. 

A visit  to  our  city  and  an  investigation  of  its  claims  cannot  fail  to  satisfy 
the  most  skeptical. 


HUNTING  AND  FISHIHG. 

BY  JOHN  F.  JENKINS. 

While  the  energies  of  our  people  are  bent  towards  the  advancement  of 
their  manufacturing  and  agricultural  interests,  and  while  the  rewards  which 
have  accrued  to  those  who  first  launched  the  manufacturing  enterprises  are  excit- 
ing further  emulation  in  these  directions,  still  there  are  moments  spared  from 
the  press  of  business  by  many  of  our  citizens  to  indulge  in  the  healthful  and 
manly  exercise  of  field  sports,  which  the  near  country  around  furnishes  in 
attractive  abundance  and  variety. 

Within  a radius  of  twenty  miles  around  Natchez  the  sportsman  can  find 
deer,  bear,  wild  turkeys  and  quail  in  abundance  ; and  in  the  proper  season, 
duck,  snipe  and  woodcock. 

DEER.— The  popular  mode  of  hunting  deer  in  this  section  is  to  drive  them 
with  hounds,  and  take  stands  for  them  in  the  runways.  Good  deer-hunting  ot 
this  sort  can  be  had  in  St.  Catherine’s  Swamps,  six  miles  from  Natchez  ; also 
near  Fairchild’s  Island,  thirty  miles  distant,  and  in  the  Homochitto  Swamps, 
twenty  miles  away;  but  the  best  deer-hunting,  perhaps,  in  America,  is  to  be 


OLD  AND  NEW  NATCHEZ. 


47 


found  on  Ben’s  Lake  in  the  edge  of  Catahoula  Parish,  Louisiana,  midway  be- 
tween the  Tensas  and  Ouachita  rivers,  and  the  distance  from  Natchez  is  only 
twenty-eight  miles.  It  is  easy  of  access  by  wagon,  or  by  rail  and  steamer. 
The  species  of  deer  in  this  section  is  the  common  Virginia  deer.  The  buck 
with  four  or  five  points  on  his  horns  often  nets  200  to  250  pounds,  and  has 
been  known  to  reach  300  pounds. 

Bear. — The  species  of  bear  is  the  common  black  fellow.  He  is  found  in 
great  abundance  on  Turtle  Lake,  about  thirteen  miles  from  Natchez,  and  is 
plentiful  all  over  Concordia  Parish.  Our  bear  generally  net  about  250  to  300 
pounds,  when  full  grown.  They  are  always  hunted  with  dogs. 

Wild  Turkeys  are  found  in  almost  every  direction  from  Natchez. 
Their  favorite  resorts  are  Big  Oak  Ridge,  in  St.  Catherine’s  Swamp,  and  in  the 
Homochitto  Swamp.  They  are  most  commonly  hunted  in  the  months  of  March 
and  April  when  they  are  mating.  Wild  turkey  gobblers  often  attain  a weight 
of  20  pounds.  Hunting  turkeys  is  exciting  sport,  and  many  sportsmen,  among 
them  the  writer,  derive  greater  satisfaction  from  the  capture  of  a twenty-pound 
gobbler,  with  his  eighteen-inch  beard,  than  from  killing  a two-hundred-pound 
buck  with  six  points  on  his  antlers. 

Quail  or  Partridge. — Of  all  the  field  sports  in  this  vicinity  quail  shoot- 
ing is  the  pursuit  that  has  the  most  devotees.  It  is  the  one  that  is  the  easiest 
to  reach,  and  is  certain  to  put  game  in  the  bag  in  the  shortest  time.  The  very 
best  localities  near  Natchez  for  this  game  are  Stanton  Station,  on  the  “Little  J” 
railroad,  “Beverly”  plantation,  in  Second  Creek  bottom,  and  others,  all  within 
twelve  miles  of  the  city. 

Ducks. — In  the  middle  of  November  the  ducks  begin  to  arrive,  and  afford 
fine  sport  until  January.  We  have  the  mallard  and  teal  in  great  abundance. 
There  are  many  fine  resorts  for  these  birds,  but  their  favorite  one  is  Homochitto 
Swamp,  because  of  the  growth  of  wild  celery,  which  has  a great  attraction  for 
them  and  gives  their  flesh  a most  delicious  flavor. 

Snipe. — Good  snipe  hunting  can  be  had  in  the  months  of  February  and 
March  at  Giles  Swamp,  at  “ Beverly  ” and  “ Frogmore”  plantations.  On  the 
latter  place  they  are  in  great  abundance. 

Fish. — There  are  many  fine  fish  in  our  neighboring  lakes.  Our  great 
game  fish  are  the  green  trout  and  the  bar  fish  or  striped  bass.  The  best  bait 
for  trout  is  a small  minnow,  while  the  bar  fish  is  readily  taken  with  shrimp. 
The  trout  weighs  from  one  to  eight  pounds,  and  the  bar  fish  from  one  to  four 
pounds. 

A Few  Bags  That  Have  Been  Made. — Near  Ben’s  Lake,  a party  of 
hunters  killed  1,200  pounds  of  venison  on  a single  hunt. 

I11  quail  shooting  the  average  hunter  bags  a >out  20  birds  per  day  ; but  a 
bag  of  75  birds  was  made  in  one  day  on  “ Beverly  ” plantation. 

The  biggest  bags  of  birds  have  been  made  on  Sicily  Island,  where  90  birds 
per  diem  to  the  man  is  not  considered  extraordinary. 

At  Gaillard’s  Lake  a partj^  of  four  hunters  killed  in  one  day  203  mallard 
ducks.  One  of  the  party,  the  president  of  the  Gaillard  Sporting  Club,  scored 
65  mallards  in  three  hours’  shooting. 

Bags  of  200  snipe  to  two  hunters  have  been  made  in  one  day. 

One  of  the  recorded  fish  frys  took  place  at  Old  River  Cut-off,  when  475 
bar  fish  were  taken  with  rod  and  line  from  5 to  9 o’clock  A.  m.  by  eight  fish- 
ermen. 

One  of  the  best  bags  known  to  the  writer  w'as  made  by  a party  of  three 
sportsmen  in  the  vicinity  of  Gaillard’s  Lake,  when,  in  the  short  space  of  two 
days,  they  had  21  quail,  15  snipe,  5 woodcocks,  35  green  winged  teal,  10  mal- 
lards and  1 deer. 


4 


48 


THE  MEMENTO 


GflJVIE  LiAWS,  ETC. 

The  game  laws  of  this  county  have  recently  been  amended  so  as  to  pro- 
hibit all  hunting  of  every  species  of  game  from  March  15  to  November  1 of 
each  year.  This  is  a strict  law,  and  no  doubt  should  be  modified  as  to  some 
varieties  of  game.  But  the  idea  is  that  if  there  are  different  dates  for  different 
game,  pot  hunters  will  take  advantage  of  it  to  destroy  some  game  whose  period 
for  being  hunted  has  expired. 

Our  farmers  and  planters,  as  a rule,  make  no  objection  to  sportsmen  hunt- 
ing on  their  lands,  and  where  there  is  an  exceptional  case  of  “posting”  the 
lands,  a personal  application  readily  obtains  the  desired  permission. 

One  of  the  chief  recommendations  that  Natchez  and  vicinity  offer  to  the 
zealous  sportsman  is  the  magnificent  climate.  During  the  shooting  season, 
from  November  to  March,  there  are  only  a few  days  when  the  weather  is  at  all 
bitter,  say  from  January  1 to  15,  the  aver  tge  temperature  for  the  balance  of  the 
shooting  season  ranging  from  40  to  64  degrees  Fahrenheit,  so  the  sportsman  can 
utilize  almost  the  whole  of  the  shooting  season  without  that  strain  upon  the 
health  which  extremes  of  temperature  in  many  other  places  so  often  exerts. 

The  object  in  sending  out  this  book  is  to  let  the  world  know  what  we  have 
here,  and  I would  say  to  visitors : After  you  have  examined  our  agricultural 
and  industrial  resources  come  and  take  a hunt  with  us,  and  we  will  show  you 
that,  in  addition  to  the  other  things,  we  have  hunting  and  fishing  second  to  no 
place  in  America. 


OLD  AND  NEW  NATCHEZ. 


49 


Negro  Baptism  at  Natchez 


Natchez  Under  the  Hil1, 


50 


THE  MEMENTO 


Memorial  Park 


Bluff  City  R.  R.— The' Giant  Enterprise  of  Rumble  & Wensel  Co. 


OLD  AND  NEW  NA  TCHEZ. 


5i 


MEMORIAL  DAY,  APRIL  30,  1889 


THE  DAY  GENERALLY  OBSERVED— THE  CEREMONIES  INTERESTING  AND 
IMPRESSIVE,  THE  STORES  BEING  CLOSED  AND  THE  STREETS 
FULL  OF  STRANGERS. 

HE  city  on  yesterday  wore  something  of  a holiday  appearance,  the  streets 


being  thronged  during  most  of  the  hours  of  the  day  with  sight-seeing  vis- 
itors, the  schools  being  dismissed,  most  of  the  stores  being  closed,  and  their  clerks 
and  other  employes,  with  the  school  children,  helping  to  swell  thecrowds.  The 
occasion  was,  of  course,  Memorial  Day,  one  that  should  be  dear  to  the  hearts  of 
all  Southern  people,  when  they  pay  homage  and  respect  to  the  memories  of  the 
gallant  heroes  who  laid  their  lives  as  a sacrifice  upon  the  altar  of  their  “Sunny 
Southland.’’  The  custom  of  decorating  the  lowly  mounds  beneath  which  sleep 
loved  ones  is  as  beautiful  as  it  is  holy,  and  when  we  strew  garlands  and  wreaths 
upon  the  graves  of  those  whom  we  knew  not;  who  are  bound  to  us  by  no  ties 
of  kinship  or  other  bond  of  affection  than  the  broad  one  that  they  were  South- 
erners and  gave  up  their  lives  for  our  section  of  the  country;  that  they  are 


the  custom  is  still  more  holy,  still  more  sacred,  still  more  beautiful,  and 
must  command  the  respect  and  admiration  of  all  who  have  a spark  of  senti- 
ment in  their  breasts,  whether  they  were  friends  or  foes. 

The  ceremonies  of  the  day  opened  with  High  Mass,  at  St.  Mary’s  Cathe- 
dral, for  the  Confederate  dead,  and  it  was  largely  attended.  It  has  long  been  a 
custom  at  St.  Mary’s  Cathedral  on  each  recurring  Memorial  Day,  having  been 
inaugurated  by  Bishop  Elder,  continued  by  Bishop  Janssens,  and  celebrated 
yesterday  by  Very  Rev.  Father  Meerschart  at  the  park. 

A temporary  pavilion  had  been  erected  on  the  mound  on  the  north  side  of 
the  Park,  facing  Main  street,  which  will  be  occupied  by  the  proposed  Confed- 
erate monument.  The  pavilion  was  handsomely  decorated  with  Spanish  moss, 
flowers  and  evergreens,  and  the  front  draped  with  National  colors,  with  the  old 
Confederate  flag  occupying  a conspicuous  place.  A dais  was  raised  in  the 
center,  which  was  also  elegantly  adorned  with  flowers,  and  a magnificent  bou- 
quet occupied  a place  on  the  table  where  the  speaker  was  to  stand.  Within  the 
pavilion  were  seats  for  the  orators  of  the  day,  the  clergy,  the  master  of  cere- 
monies, Gen.  Will  T.  Martin,  the  committee  to  lay  the  corner  stone,  and  mem- 
bers of  the  press. 

It  was  nearly  one  o’clock  before  the  exercises  were  opened  in  the  presence 
of  a vast  concourse  of  persons,  with  a most  fervid  and  earnest  prayer  by  Rev. 
J.  B.  Stratton,  D.  D.  Gen.  Martin  then  introduced  the  orator  of  the  day, 
JudgeS.  S.  Calhoon,  of  Jackson,  with  a few  neat  and  graceful  remarks.  Judge 
Calhoon  prefaced  his  remarks  with  a tribute  to  the  culture  and  refinement  of  the 
citizens  of  Natchez,  and  said  that,  being  almost  afraid  to  trust  himself  to  deliver 
his  address  off-hand,  he  would  read  it  from  the  manuscript.  The  speaker  then 
launched  into  the  subject  matter  of  his  address,  which  was  very  able,  masterly 
and  appropriate  to  the  occasion.  He  referred  briefly  to  the  causes  of  the  war, 
saying  that  the  South  believed  in  the  dogma  of  State’s  rights,  and  the  sover- 
eignty of  the  several  States,  while  the  North  took  the  opposite  view,  and  thus 


“the  sacred  dust, 


Of  the  warriors  tried  and  true 
Who  bore  the  flag  of  our  People’s  trust 
And  fell  in  a cause  though  lost  still  just, 


And  died  for  me  and  you” — 


52 


THE  MEMENTO 


was  precipitated  the  conflict  which  could  only  be  settled  by  the  arbitrament  of 
arms.  He  alluded  to  the  dark  days  of  the  reconstruction  period,  when  such 
celebrations  as  the  one  we  are  now  enjoying — -this  “ Memorial  Day” — were  for- 
bidden, prohibited;  but  human  sentiment  and  human  nature  were  too  strong  to 
prevent  a people  from  honoring,  reverencing  their  slain,  and  even  the  strong 
hand  of  the  conqueror  could  not  repress  the  rendering  of  this  obligation  to  the 
South’s  honored  dead.  Judge  Calhoon  also  spoke  of  the  poverty-stricken  con- 
dition in  which  our  bright,  sunny  Southland  had  been  left  by  the  war,  and 
referred  in  eulogistic  terms  to  the  manner  in  which  our  people  went  to  work  to 
retrieve  their  fallen  fortunes,  and  the  progress  and  development  that  our  country 
made  after  the  struggle. 

Judge  Calhoon  paid  a number  of  delicate  and  most  beautiful  compliments 
to  the  women  of  the  South.  He  said  the  Southern  ladies  were  the  first  to  inau- 
gurate the  custom  of  decorating  alike  the  graves  of  those  who  wore  the  blue 
and  the  gray,  showing  their  magnanimity  even  in  defeat.  He  spoke  in  glowing 
terms  of  the  heroism  of  the  soldiers  of  Natchez  and  Adams  county,  and  said  he 
believed  in  giving  credit  to  the  rank  and  file  of  the  army  for  their  deeds  of  cour- 
age and  daring,  as  well  as  to  the  greater  soldiers  like  Dee,  ‘‘Stonewall  ” Jack- 
son,  and  others.  After  speaking  of  the  admirable  qualities  of  the  dead,  who 
had  set  us  such  noble  examples,  he  spoke  also  of  the  duties  of  the  living, 
touching  in  an  able  manner  several  of  the  vital  questions  of  the  day,  and  said 
that  the  old  soldiers  of  the  Federal  army  who  came  amongst  us  seeking  new 
homes  should  be  given  a cordial  welcome.  We  regret  that  we  are  unable  to 
follow  the  whole  line  of  Judge  Calhoon’s  address,  which  was  most  able,  polished 
and  well  considered,  but  space  precludes  it.  It  required  thirty  minutes  for  its 
delivery.  The  ceremony  attendant  upon  the  laying  of  the  corner-stone  then 
followed,  this  most  pleasant  duty  devolving  upon  Gen.  Will  T.  Martin,  repre- 
senting the  cavalry  arm  of  the  Confederate  service;  Capt.  T.  Otis  Baker,  the 
infantry;  Capt.  Theo.  V.  Wensel,  the  artillery,  and  Mr.  Aug.  Day,  the  navy. 
The  stone  was  laid  in  the  east  corner  of  the  foundation  of  the  monument,  Mr. 
Frank  O’Brien  preparing  the  bed  of  mortar.  The  committee  then  proceeded  to 
lay  the  stone,  placing  within  it  the  hermetically-sealed  copper  box  containing 
the  following  articles: 

Confederate  moneys  and  coins. 

Roster  of  Confederate  Memorial  Association,  1889. 

Roster  Company  A,  Jeff  Davis  Legion. 

Roster  Adams  Troop. 

Roster  Natchez  Quitman  Light  Artillery. 

Roster  Breckenridge  Guards. 

Roster  Natchez  Light  Infantry. 

Roster  Company  I,  Adams  Light  Guard. 

Roster  Company  D,  Adams  Light  Guard. 

Roster  Natchez  Southrons. 

Roster  Conner  Battery. 

Roster  Davis  Battery. 

Roster  Bingaman  Rangers. 

Roster  Tom  Weldon  Rebels. 

Roster  Natchez  Fencibles. 

Roster  English  Battery. 

Roster  Company  G,  Second  Mississippi  Regiment  in  Mexican  War. 

Officers  Masonic  Grand  Bodies  of  Mississippi  for  year  1889. 

Catalogue  University  of  Mississippi,  1888-89. 

Proceedings  Grand  Commandery  Knights  Templar  for  1889. 

Roster  State,  County  and  City  Officials  for  1889. 

Copies  of  Natchez  Democrat , Natchez  Church  News  and  Natchez  Banner. 


OLD  AND  NEW  NATCHEZ. 


53 


The  stone  was  laid  by  Masonic  rules,  and  the  members  of  the  committee, 
each,  with  square,  level  and  plumb,  tried  it,  and  in  solemn  tones  each  pro- 
nounced it  “well  laid  by  square,  level  and  plumb.” 

Gen.  Will  T.  Martin  then  ascended  the  stand,  and,  announcing  to  the 
assembled  multitude  that  the  corner-stone  had  been  ‘ ‘well  laid  by  square,  level 
and  plumb,”  preceded  to  deliver  a most  eloquent  and  able  little  speech  of  a few 
minutes’  duration. 

Rev.  F.  A.  DeRosset,  Rector  of  Trinity  Church,  then  dismissed  the  large 
audience  with  benediction. 

At  the  cemetery  the  kind  hands  of  gentle  women  had  been  at  work  for 
some  time  previous,  decorating  the  graves  of  the  soldiers  buried  there,  and  the 
Confederate  lot  presented  a very  neat,  tidy  and  attractive  appearance.  All  the 
graves  had  been  attended  to,  and  in  the  center  of  the  lot  on  a small  mound  was 
a beautiful  floral  tribute,  that  was  to  be  presented  to  the  Federal  veterans,  to  be 
placed  in  the  National  Cemetery.  Many  of  the  graves  in  other  portions  of  our 
‘ ‘ city  of  the  dead  ’ ’ had  also  been  beautifully  adorned  with  flowers  and  ever- 
greens, and  the  place  never  appeared  more  inviting.  Under  a large  spreading 
oak  on  the  main  street  in  the  cemetery  had  been  erected  a platform,  on  which 
the  exercises  were  held. 

When  the  military  arrived,  at  about  5:30  p.  M.,  the  services  began  with  a 
beautiful  prayer,  uttered  by  Rev.  J.  S.  Jacobson,  Rabbi  of  the  Temple  in  our 
city,  which  was  as  patriotic  as  it  was  fervid.  The  address  of  the  orator  of  the 
evening  was  then  delivered.  Hon.  K.  Palmer  Tanneau  introduced  Mr.  Hen- 
derson in  a few  well  chosen  remarks. 

Mr.  Henderson’s  speech  was  most  appropriate  and  able.  He  spoke  of  the 
trials  and  vicissitudes  experienced  by  the  soldiers  of  the  Confederacy,  when  they 
had  to  march  barefoot  over  Virginia’s  snows,  and  sleep  at  night  amidst  rain 
and  sleet  with  scarcely  any  covering  save  the  broad  canopy  of  Heaven.  But 
while  the  “ boys  in  the  army”  were  suffering  all  these  hardships  on  the  tented 
fields,  their  mothers,  their  wives,  their  daughters,  and  their  sisters  at  home 
were  also  bearing  in  the  most  heroic  manner  their  share  of  the  burdens.  While 
suffering  all  the  privations  and  want  incident  to  war,  they  were  cutting  up  their 
rich  cashmere  dresses  to  make  shirts  for  the  boys — not  their  own  boys  perhaps, 
but  they  were  Southern  soldiers,  and  that  was  all  that  was  necessary.  Fine 
tapestry  carpets  went  to  make  blankets,  and  the  good  mothers,  wives,  daugh- 
ters and  sweethearts,  noble  Southern  women  that  they  were,  were  constantly 
sewing,  cutting  and  fitting  for  their  gallant  ones  at  the  front.  The  speaker 
dwelt  at  considerable  length  on  the  experiences  of  those  trying  days,  and  the 
word  pictures  that  he  drew  must  have  recalled  to  the  minds  of  the  old  soldiers 
in  the  most  vivid  manner  their  thrilling  experiences  in  the  late  war. 

In  the  course  of  his  remarks  Mr.  Henderson  said  that  they  were  not  here 
to  discuss  sectional  issues  or  politics,  but  to  pay  tribute  to  the  dead.  The 
time  might  come  when  the  veterans  would  be  called  on ' again  to  fight  for  the 
country  that  they  had  tried  to  serve,  and  they  would  do  so  gladly ; if  they  were  too 
old,  then  the  young  soldiers  would  be  called  on;  they  would  respond,  and  in 
time  would  become  veterans.  During  his  remarks  the  speaker  paid  a compli- 
ment to  one  of  the  Federal  veterans  (Capt.  Charles  Fitchett),  who  had  sent 
flowers  to  decorate  the  Confederate  graves,  and  said  that  they  would  rest  as 
lightly  and  as  gently  upon  the  lowly  mounds  as  though  they  had  been  placed 
there  by  their  comrades  in  arms  or  the  tender  hands  of  their  own  Southern 
women. 

Mr.  Henderson  concluded  his  address  by  asking  his  hearers  to  honor  all 
the  veterans — -the  one-armed  veteran,  the  one-legged  veteran — indeed,  all  who 
fought  for  the  cause  they  loved.  The  address  was  a model  of  beauty,  and  was 
delivered  in  an  elegant  manner. 


54 


THE  MEMENTO 


Maj.  Stephen  F.  Power,  a veteran  of  two  wars,  then  read  in  the  most 
pathetic  and  affecting  manner,  a poem  that  had  been  prepared  for  the  occasion 
by  William  L.  Metcalfe,  and  was  intended  to  be  recited  by  a lady,  but  was  not, 
by  reason  of  her  non-arrival  in  the  city.  Major  Power,  however,  delivered  it 
in  so  effective  a style  that  it  was  not  a little  admired.  It  is  a magnificent  pro- 
duction and  we  give  it  below: 

TO  OUR  HONORED  DEAD. 

BY  WM.  L.  METCAI.FE. 

Bring  flowers,  Spring  flowers, 

And  we’ll  weave  them  to-day, 

Into  chaplets  of  love 

On  these  low  mounds  of  clay. 

Let  the  roses’  perfume, 

And  the  lilies’  sweet  breath, 

Be  wafted  forever 

O’er  this  City  of  Death. 

For  here  ’neath  the  daisies 
They  will  sleep  in  their  grave, 

Our  heroes  immortal, 

By  the  blood  that  they  gave. 

No  sound  on  the  stillness, 

As  the  night  fades  away, 

Of  columns  advancing 
On  the  ramparts  to-day  ; 

For  now  they  are  camping 
Where  the  drum  and  the  fife, 

Shall  awaken  no  more 
Unto  arms  for  the  strife. 

Their  swords  and  their  muskets, 

With  their  dark,  waving  plumes, 

And  proud  “ Conquered  Banners  ” — 

Let  them  rest  in  these  tombs. 

While  the  stars  through  the  night, 

Yon  sentinels  of  love, 

Shall  guard  the  dead  bivouac, 

From  their  vigils  above. 

The  charge  through  the  Valley, 

’Mid  the  shot  and  the  shell, 

Will  long  live  in  Mem’ry 
Their  chivalry  to  tell  ; 

And  the  shadows  at  eve, 

As  they  close  near  their  grave, 

Will  pause  there  in  silence 
In  honor  of  the  brave. 

This  earth  will  be  sacred 
As  the  years  roll  away, 

And  the  stranger’s  rude  step 
Shall  be  turned  by  the  way  ; 

These  graves  will  be  hallow’d 
In  the  homes  of  their  toil, 

In  the  land  of  their  birth, 

This  cherished  Southern  soil. 


OLD  AND  NEW  NATCHEZ. 


55 


Nor  will  their  dear  “ Lost  Cause,” 

When  we  whisper  its  name, 

E’er  be  darken’d  by  time 
Or  forgotten  to  fame. 

Then  place  the  Spring  flowers 
On  these  low  mounds  of  clay, 

And  we’ll  dew  them  with  tears 
As  we  weave  them  to-day. 

O’er  the  Shenandoah’s  slope, 

Near  the  Chesapeake’s  wave, 

By  the  hills  around  Richmond, 

And  the  Rapidan’s  lave, 

Where  the  Mississippi  flows 
From  the  North  to  the  sea, 

Scatter  the  Spring  flowers 
In  remembrance  of  Lee  ; 

And  to  Jackson,  at  rest 

“ Neath  the  shade  of  the  trees, 

Let  us  cross  o’er  the  river  ” 

With  our  garlands  and  wreaths  ; 

While  for  Johnson,  w7ho  fell 
On  Shiloh’s  sunny  plain, 

Twine  there  the  Spring  flowers 
Where  the  soldier  was  slain. 

And  now7  at  our  fireside 

We  will  bend  low  our  head, 

For  Connor,  Inge,  Lilly, 

And  Lacoste,  who  are  dead, 

With  Baker  and  Council — 

We  mourn  them  to-day. 

O wreathe  the  sweet  flowers 
On  their  low  mounds  of  clay: 

This  tribute  here  alone 
Is  the  most  we  can  do 
For  those  who  are  sleeping 
In  the  Gray  and  the  Blue. 

The  exercises,  which  had  been  interspersed  with  music,  were  then  closed 
with  a benediction  by  Rev.  W.  E.  Ballard,  of  the  Jefferson  Street  Methodist 
Church. 

The  assembled  multitude  then  proceeded  to  the  Confederate  lot,  in  front 
of  which  the  veterans  and  the  military  were  drawn  up  in  line,  and  the  Natchez 
Rifles  fired  three  rounds  of  blank  cartridges  over  the  graves  of  the  Confederate 
dead. 

A large  floral  tribute  that  had  been  resting  on  the  mound  in  the  Confed- 
erate lot  was  then  taken  up  by  four  Confederate  veterans,  Capt.  John  Russell 
(a  one-armed  veteran),  Maj.  Douglas  Walworth,  Capt.  S.  E.  Rumble  and  Capt. 
L-  D.  Aldrich  These  gentlemen  formed  in  line  with  the  following  Federal 
veterans,  Col.  William  Noonan,  Capt.  A H.  Foster,  Capt.  H.  J.  Rockwell  and 
Mr.  A.  Cook,  escorted  by  all  the  military,  the  Confederate  veterans  and  hun- 
dreds of  citizens,  and  the  line  of  march  was  taken  up  for  the  National  Cemetery. 

Arriving  there,  the  tribute  was  deposited  on  the  mound  from  which  rises 
the  flagstaff,  and  about  its  base  the  military  -were  drawn  up.  Captain  Fitchett, 
the  genial  and  courteous  superintendent,  was  there  to  welcome  the  visitors,  and 
Captain  Foster  received  in  the  most  eloquent  and  pathetic  terms  the  tribute  from 
the  living  ex- Confederates  to  the  Federal  dead.  Captain  Foster’s  speech  came 


56 


THE  MEMENTO 


straight  from  his  heart,  and,  speaking  for  his  ex-comrades  in  arms,  he  was 
glad  to  say  that  they  had  been  kindly  treated  since  they  had  been  here;  that 
they  had  now  come  to  regard  the  South  as  their  home,  her  people  their  people, 
her  God  their  God.  He  hoped  that  the  time  would  come  when  the  United 
States  would,  from  its  wealthy  treasury,  take  just  such  care  of  the  Confederate 
cemeteries  as  they  did  of  this  cemetery,  and  he  asked,  on  behalf  of  the  dead 
around  him,  for  divine  benediction  upon  the  living  before  him.  Captain  Foster’s 
speech  was  very  touching,  and  we  regret  that  we  can  not  dwell  upon  it. 

The  bearing  of  the  floral  offering  from  the  Confederate  cemetery  by  Con- 
federate veterans — a tribute  from  the  conquered  living  to  the  victorious  dead — 
was  a marked  feature  of  the  day’s  events,  and  was  a striking  evidence  of  the 
harmony  and  brotherly  love  that  exists  and  is  growing  between  the  old  soldiers 
of  the  North  and  South. 

Thus  closed  Memorial  Day  of  1889.  Never  before  was  a day  more  gener- 
ally or  more  earnestly  celebrated  than  this,  and  pleasant  memories  of  it  will 
live  for  all  time  in  the  hearts  of  those  participating  in  it. — Natchez  Weekly 
Democrat , May  1,  1889. 


THE  CIVIL  WAR,  1861-65 


EXTRACTS  FROM  THE 


Memorial  Souvenir 


Adams  Light  Infantry 

Capt.  T.  OTIS  BAKER,  Commanding 


NATCHEZ,  MISSISSIPPI 


April  26,  1890 


58 


THE  MEMENTO 


EXTRACTS  FROM  MEMORIAL  SOI  VENIR,. 
APRIL,  1890. 

MISCELLANEOUS. 

Aldrich,  L.  G. — Major  and  A.  A.  Gen'l  011  staff  of  Gen.  J E.  Slaughter. 
Barlow,  Noah — Wheat’s  Battalion  and  Co  I.,  15th  Ea.  Regiment. 

Bryant,  J.  W. — Lieut,  and  A.  Q.  M. 

Carroll.  Wm. — Louisiana  Regiment. 

Dahlgren,  C.  G — Brigadier  General,  State  Service. 

Davis,  G.  Malin — A.  A.  Gen’l,  State  Service. 

Duncan,  S.  F. — Captain  and  Aid  to  Gen.  J.  E.  Slaughter  and  Gen.  D.  H. 
Maury. 

Holmes,  Eugene — Captain  of  Artillery.  Died  of  disease  at  Mobile. 
Hopkins,  E.  L. — Lieut.  Co.  F.,  31st  La.  Regiment,  and  Captain  of  Scouts, 
Gen.  S.  B.  Buckner’s  Department. 

Lyle,  Wm.  J. — Adjutant  Staff  Gen.  C.  G.  Dahlgren  and  1st  Lieut  on  Staff 
of  Gen.  Wm.  N.  Beale. 

Marshall,  Jr.,  L-  R. — Captain  and  Inspector  General  to  Gen.  W.  W. 
Loring. 

Ogden,  John  R. — Capt.  and  Aid  to  Gen.  W.  W.  Loring. 

Power,  S.  F. — Major  and  A.  Q.  M. 

Profilet,  L.  E.  Surgeon,  with  rank  of  Major. 

Rumble,  S.  E. — Captain  and  A.  Q.  M. 

Surget,  Eustace — Lieut.  Colonel  and  A.  A.  General  on  staff  of  Gen.  Richard 
Taylor. 

Walworth,  D. — Major  and  Adjutant  General  on  staff  of  General  W.  T. 
Martin. 

Wilkins,  W.  A.  (Tip.) — Washington  Artillery. 

Wilkins,  H.  J. — Lieut.  Colonel  48th  Mississippi  Regiment. 

Williams,  J.  T. — Louisiana  Regiment. 

Winston,  Joseph — Aid  to  Gov.  Winston,  General  J.  E.  Slaughter  and 
General  J.  Majors. 

Wood,  Robt.  W. — Major  and  C.  S.,  State  Service. 

Wrigley,  Wm. — Wheat’s  Battalion. 

Wrigley,  Thomas — Wheat’s  Battalion. 


OLD  AND  NEW'  NATCHEZ. 


59 


RECAPITULATION. 


Names  of  Companies. 


O 

\£  % 
O f3 


bc_ 

bfi  c5 

b£ 

<1 


OT3 

_ V 

£ 3 

O « 

H 


bfis* 
cc  .ti 

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O XI 
.2  cd 

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bfl  C/3 
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cd  (/) 
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t 

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60 

at 

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Natchez  Quitman  Light  Artillery 

Natchez  Fencibles 

Adams  Light  Guard,  Co.  D 

Adams  Light  Guard,  Co.  I.  ...... 

Adams  Troop 

Natchez  Rifles 

Natchez  Light  Infantry 

Tom  Weldon  Rebels 

Natchez  Southrons 

Conner  Battery 

English  Battery 

Breckenridge  Guards __ 

Bingaman  Rangers 

Capt.  Lynn’s  Squad 


7i 
142 
128 
108 
103 
123 
1 15 
82 
127 
160 
75 

115 

69 

26 

1444 


19  2 

36- 

12 

8 

14  1 


11 

17 

2 

4 

6 

15 

1 

i45 


1 

6 

10 

3 

3 

5 

5 

3 

15 

14 

6 
9 

4 


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11 


84 


23 


1 

29 

48 

17 

12 

20 

6 

15 

44 

16 
11 

i* 

19 

1 

257 


4 

25 

25 

5 

7 - 

17 

11 

15  ■ 
27 
1 . 
9 


146 


19 


4 

2 

3 
12 

2 


28 


29 


32 


18 


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72 

76 

49 

35 

50 
6 

29 

74 

43 

12 

36 

19 

1 

5io 


A partial  list  of  a squad,  who  went  to  Bowling  Green,  Ky.,  under  command 
of  Major  Thos.  Grafton,  and  was  enlisted  in  the  sixty-day  troops.  The  quota 
of  the  Natchez  Tight  Infantry  being  full,  the  squad  was  attached  to  Capt. 
Walsh’s  Company  of  the  1st  Mississippi  Regiment. 


Thos.  Grafton, 
John  A.  Dicks, 
J.  L.  Moore, 
Thos.  P.  Tove, 


Bernard  Buell, 
Bridges  Poster, 

Morgan,  Died. 

Wm.  Hazlip, 


Leo  Dishroom, 

Buckingham, 

Jas.  Middleton, 
Bunk  Scott. 


6o 


THE  MEMENTO 


The  Old  Residence  of  the  Minors. 


Stanton  College 


OLD  AND  NE IV  NA  TCHEZ. 


61 


NATCHEZ,  1895 


WRITTEN  FOR  THE  “LADIES’  EDITION1’  THE  EVENING  NEWS,  WASHINGTON’S 
BIRTHDAY,  FEBRUARY  22,  1895. 


HIS  to  all  our  citizens  will  be  an  interesting  theme.  After  reading  some- 


thing of  the  Natchez  of  the  present,  they  will,  no  doubt,  be  pleased  to  know 
that  in  the  history  of  Mississippi  Natchez  has  played  a more  prominent  part 
political^,  financially  and  socially  than  has  any  other  city  in  the  State  ; that 
Natchez  was  the  first  capital  of  the  Mississippi  Territory  ; that  at  one  time  it 
was  the  most  important  town  in  the  whole  Louisiana  Territory;  that  Andrew 
Jackson,  Andrew  Johnson,  Henry  Clay,  Aaron  Burr  and  James  Buchanan  were 
as  well  known  in  Natchez  as  are  our  most  prominent  men  in  the  city  at  the 
present  day. 

Natchez  was  at  one  time  under  the  dominion  of  the  Spanish  King  ; again 
under  the  rule  of  the  French;  then  the  chief  city  of  a Territory,  wfith  a governor 
appointed  by  the  United  States;  then  of  a State,  with  its  present  position  in  the 
affairs  of  the  nation. 

Natchez  was  the  center  of  the  tribe  of  Indians  of  that  name.  Here  the 
Great  Sun  lived  and  ruled  his  people  with  a rod  of  iron,  using  as  his  power  the 
race  tradition  that  he,  the  Great  Sun,  ruler  of  the  powerful  Natchez,  was  a 
brother  of  the  real  sun,  and  that  it  was  only  by  his  will  and  direction  that 
our  great  luminary  could  rise  and  set. 

But  here  we’ll  turn  to  Natchez  of  the  present,  and  later  bring  in  Natchez  of 
the  past. 

The  Finances  of  a city  is  what  every  one  first  inquires  into.  We  have  three 
banks,  all  of  which  are  solid  institutions  one  of  which  has  a surplus  capital  as 
large  as  that  of  most  banks  of  the  great  cities  of  the  United  States.  Our  mer- 
chants are  all  business  men,  wide-awake  and  up  to  the  times.  We  have  more 
business  in  the  staple  of  the  South — cotton — than  any  other  city  in  the  State.  Two 
railroads  furnish  the  means  of  transportation  to  and  from  the  city.  Besides  this, 
we  have  opportunities  and  facilities  presented  by  a river  navigable  at  all  times 
of  the  year — except  the  dead  winter — from  its  source  to  its  mouth,  putting  us 
in  direct  communication  with  the  Gulf  of  Mexico  and  the  vast  Atlantic. 

Industries.— We  have  in  the  city  two  cotton  factories,  both  doing  as 
business  equal  to  that  of  any  in  the  City  of  Looms;  two  cotton-seed  oil  mill, 
whose  products  are  known  all  over  the  United  States,  and  which  also  make 
shipments  of  their  oil  to  the  Old  Continent;  a cotton  compress — capable  of 
compressing  5,000  bales  per  diem — an  acquisition  now  absolutely  necessary 
to  a city  engaged  to  any  extent  in  the  cotton  trade.  An  ice  factory  supplies 
the  people  of  Natchez  with  all  the  ice  required  for  its  consumption,  and  at  the 
same  time  comes  into  close  competition  with  New  Orleans  for  this  cold-pro- 
ducing commodity.  An  iron  foundry,  necessary  to  any  city  of  Natchez’ 
business,  turns  out  work  which  can  compare  more  than  favorably  with  the 
products  of  Pittsburgh,  Birmingham  and  St.  Louis.  Cotton  gins  are  money- 
makers, and  the  ginning  done  by  them  is  said  to  be  most  excellent.  Two  saw- 
mills furnish  the  very  best  of  lumber  at  a rate  of  cost  entirely  in  proportion  to 
that  of  any  other  city  in  the  State.  Brick-yards  are  not  the  pigmies  of  former 
days,  but  are  now  large  businesses,  supplying  not  only  Natchez,  but  the  terri- 
tory for  miles  around,  with  brick  with  which  the  product  of  no  other  city  in 
the  State  can  make  any  comparison.  Wood-working  is  also  an  industry  of 
some  note,  while  harness-making  is  a coming  business  Two  daily  newspapers, 
two  weeklies,  and  two  or  three  monthlies  make  their  appearance  here. 


62 


THE  MEMENTO 


Educational  and  Religious. — Stanton  College  is  an  institution  (lately 
opened)  for  young  ladies,  where  the  languages,  science,  and,  in  fact,  all  the 
higher  branches,  are  taught,  and  whose  faculty  is  counted  as  one  of  the  ablest 
ever  a college  had.  The  Natchez  Institute  is  one  of  the  oldest  educational 
institutions,  not  only  in  the  State,  but  in  the  South.  Here  many  of  the  promi- 
ment  men  of  Adams  county  and  the  city  of  Natchez,  were  taught  to  be  able,  self- 
reliant  men.  The  Union  School  is  an  institution  in  which  the  negro  children 
of  the  city  are  given  as  good  an  education  as  the  children  of  the  white  race 
receive.  Besides  these  larger  and  public  institutions  are  several  private  schools, 
all  of  a high  grade. 

Churches  of  almost  every  denomination  are  here.  The  largest  of  these  is 
St.  Mary’s  Cathedral,  having  a spire  the  apex  of  which  is  204 feet  above  the 
ground.  There  is  an  Episcopalian,  a Baptist,  Presbyterian  and  two  Methodist 
churches,  besides  a church  of  each  of  these  denominations  for  the  colored 
people. 

Socially. — Natchez  has  no  superior  for  a society  refined  and  polished.  For 
years  Natchez  has  been  classed  as  the  Hub  of  Mississippi,  in  which  the  literary 
lights  of  the  State  are  ensconced. 


OLD  AND  NEW  NATCHEZ. 


63 


DOWN  IN  DIXIE. 

NATCHEZ. 

THE  rime  of  nearly  two  centuries  lies  white  upon  the  scroll  on  which  is 
written  the  history  of  Natchez,  and  through  its  dimming  envelopments  the 
tragedies  that  hewed  rough  outlines,  red-stained  upon  the  page,  lie,  like  mem- 
ories, but  half  remembered  and  but  half  forgotten 

Eighteen  years  before  the  Chevalier  Bienville  laid  the  foundations  of  New 
Orleans,  he  with  D’Iberville,  his  brother  and  DeTonti,  fellow  explorers,  and  the 
latter  both  companion  and  friend  to  Ea  Salle,  stood  on  the  celebrated  Natchez 
bluff,  looking  down  sheer  two  hundred  and  thirty-five  feet  to  wEere  the  swift 
current  of  the  Mississippi  dashed  a golden  spray  under  the  cliff.  To  the  right 
and  left  the  river  curved  like  enveloping  arms  about  a tiny  group  of  islands 
fringed  with  the  green  mist  of  willows  and  sending  over  the  waves  the  soft  rip- 
pling sound  of  fluttering  cottonwood  leaves  from  stately  groves  of  trees. 
Beyond,  lay,  like  an  open  scroll,  the  fair  demesne  of  Louisiana  in  all  its  pristine 
loveliness.  The  glow  of  the  declining  sun  framed  the  scene  in  a setting  of 
gold  and  crimson — alas,  such  a setting  as  the  State  once  learned  to  know! 
Radiant  were  the  woven  sunbeams  in  the  long  lush  grass;  the  blue  rim  of  the 
live-oak  forest  was  edged  with  a golden  halo,  and  the  pink  flush  of  spring  crept 
up  from  the  wild  cotton  blooms  and  anemones  that  threaded  the  land;  spring’s 
fair  face  smiled  a welcome,  and  her  hand  held  out  to  the  wanderers  a spray  of 
Cherokee  roses,  like  a white  emblem  of  peace. 

The  Spanish  explorers  came  looking  for  gold,  and  they  found  the  gold  of 
the  sunbeams  lighting  up  a beauteous  country,  the  long  shafts  of  sunshine 
pointing  like  golden  fingers  down  the  mighty  river  and  softly  touching  the 
Natchez  shore. 

D’Iberville,  a brave  and  gallant  French  soldier,  was  so  struck  by  the  beauty 
of  this  idyl  of  the  spring  that  he  drew  plans  for  a future  city,  to  be  set  in  the 
splendid  natural  surroundings  of  the  present  city  of  Natchez,  and,  with  the 
chivalry  of  his  nature,  named  the  spot  Rosalie,  in  honor  of  the  beautiful 
Countess  de  Pontchartrain,  wife  of  the  French  chancellor.  Sixteen  j^ears  later, 
in  1716,  Fort  Rosalie  was  built  upon  the  site,  two  years  before  New  Orleans 
made  its  first  step  from  the  rim  of  a sea  marsh  into  the  pathway  of  a great 
metropolis. 

The  country  surrounding  Natchez  was,  in  1716  and  many  years  afterwards, 
occupied  by  the  Natchez,  Choctaw  and  Chickasaw  Indians.  The  former  tribe, 
a powerful  and  intelligent  people,  numbered  about  2,000  warriors  in  1705,  less 
than  half  the  number  attributed  to  them  a few  years  previous.  This  tribe  was 
said  to  be  of  Aztec  origin,  and  to  have  aided  Cortez  in  overthrowing  the  dynasty 
of  the  Aztec  emperors.  The  rule  of  the  Spaniards  Subsequently  became  more 
unbearable,  and  the  Natchez,  who  claimed  to  derive  their  origin,  laws  and  religion 
from  the  sun,  went  up  into  Louisiana  and  settled  around  the  circle  of  the  river 
that  clasps  the  land  of  Natchez. 

The  story  of  their  religion,  with  its  worship  of  two  sacred  fires,  lit  by  heaven 
and  fed  by  eight  priests,  who  used  only  the  inner  wood  of  the  white  walnut;  of 
their  industrial  advancement  and  governmental  laws;  of  their  history  and 
legends,  is  one  full  of  interest  and  romantic  beauty. 

Miss  Irwin  Huntington,  of  Natchez,  has  sung  its  measures  sweetly,  in 
metrical  verse,  in  her  book,  “The  Wife  of  the  Sun.”  The  chief  of  the 
Natchez  tribe  was  called  the  Great  Sun,  and  other  members  of  the  royal  family 
were  known  as  “Little  Suns.'’  The  rapid  reduction,  instead  of  multiplication, 
of  the  number  of  the  tribe  was  due  to  the  fact  that  many  of  them  immolated 


5 


64 


THE  MEMENTO 


themselves  upon  the  grave  of  some  chief  or  member  of  his  family.  It  may  be 
that  from  these  great  sacrifices,  occurring  at  comparatively  frequent  intervals, 
the  mounds  of  Indian  remains  received  their  formation  and  size.  There  are 
many  of  these  about  Natchez. 

The  building  of  the  primitive  town,  in  1716,  was  caused  by  the  following 
conditions  imposed  by  Bienville  as  a punishment  to  the  Natchez  Indians  for  mo- 
lesting Frenchmen  traveling  up  and  down  the  river: 

First — You  will  compel  your  people  to  deliver  up  to  me  for  punishment  the 
chiefs  who  have  led  the  attacks  on  the  French. 

Second — You  will  oblige  them  (the  Indians)  to  cut  2,500  stakes  of  acacia 
wood,  13  feet  long,  by  a diameter  of  10  inches,  and  to  convey  the  whole  to  the 
bank  of  the  Mississippi,  at  such  a spot  as  it  will  please  the  French  to  erect  a 
fort;  and,  further,  you  will  bind  yourselves  to  furnish  us,  as  a covering  for  our 
buildings,  with  the  barks  of  3,000  trees.  This  is  to  be  executed  before  the  first 
day  of  July  (it  was  then  the  first  day  of  June);  and,  above,  all  you  will  also 
swear  never,  under  any  pretext  or  coloring  whatever,  to  entertain  the  slightest 
commercial  or  friendly  relations  with  the  British,  whom  you  know  to  be  the 
eternal  enemies  of  the  French. 

For  some  time  the  Indians  were  very  friendly  to  their  white  neighbors;  but 
the  French  became  more  and  more  rapacious,  until  their  cruel  oppression  could 
no  longer  be  borne  and  a fearful  massacre  of  many  hundreds  of  whites  was  the 
result.  From  its  demoniacal  frenzy  five  men  escaped  to  New  Orleans  to  tell  of 
the  carnage.  Governor  Perrier  sent  an  expedition  up  to  Fort  Rosalie  and  almost 
exterminated  the  Natchez  tribe,  completing  the  work  by  demanding,  in  a treaty 
with  the  Chickasaws  many  years  afterwards,  the  delivery  of  the  lastof  the  doomed 
tribe  of  Natchez.  Fort  Rosalie  was  re-occupied  and  possessed  by  the  French 
until  this  portion  of  Louisiana  Territory  was  ceded  to  England,  in  1763,  when  its 
name  became  Panmure  until  1779,  when  it  became  a part  of  the  Spanish  Territory 
of  Florida. 

The  town  attained  to  great  prosperity  under  the  dominion  of  Spain,  and 
there  are  many  evidences  still  remaining  of  the  regal  magnificence  in  which 
the  old  Spanish  governors  lived.  A certain  part  of  the  town  was  reserved 
exclusively  for  the  residences  of  the  Spanish  grandees.  In  1797  the  town 
became  part  of  the  United  States  and  a center  of  wealth  and  culture.  Rich 
Louisiana  and  Mississippi  planters  had  palatial  town  residences  here,  exquisitely 
adorned  and  possessing  treasures  of  art  by  the  old  masters  equalled  onty  by  the 
best  in  Europe.  The  aristocracy  of  Natchez  was  proud,  exclusive,  highly 
cultivated,  and  possessed  of  an  amount  of  wealth  and  absolute  leisure  that 
enabled  them  to  reach  the  highest  pinnacle  of  civilization.  Still,  in  the  pictu- 
resque environments  of  this  beautiful  old  town,  crumbling  fapades,  Corinthian 
columns  and  rare  Arabesques,  is  told  a pathetic  story,  graven  in  stone  and  etched 
with  the  moss-gray  pencil  of  time,  of  the  golden  age  of  the  past  that  melted  at 
the  breath  of  war,  as  the  sunbeams  that  pointed  the  way  melted  into  nothing 
more  than  a century  before. 

In  1803,  among  the  principal  residents  of  Natchez  were  such  families  as 
Ogilsby,  Holmes,  Burling,  which  have  ever  since  been  prominent  in  the  State 
of  Mississippi. 

In  spite  of  her  decline  in  regal  opulence,  Natchez  acquired  an  impetus 
towards  commercial  and  agricultural  enterprise  after  the  war,  and  soon  attained 
a population  of  12,000. 

Natchez  has  three  large  banks  that  have  withstood  the  wildest  panics 
in  the  money  market;  two  great  cotton  factories,  manufacturing  various  tex- 
tiles that  find  a ready  market  at  home  and  abroad  ; two  gigantic  cotton-seed  oil 
mills,  a mammoth  cotton  compress,  an  ice  manufacturing  plant,  a big  foundry 
and  machine  shop,  good  electric  light  and  street  car  service,  excellent  sewer- 
age, and  a number  of  prosperous  industries.  Natchez  has  an  admirable  train 


OLD  AND  NE  W NA  TCHEZ.  65 

and  steamboat  service  that  puts  it  on  a par,  in  this  respect,  with  any  metrop- 
olis in  the  South. 

Among  the  educational  institutions  of  Natchez  are  Stanton  College,  the 
Davis  Female  Institute,  St.  Joseph’s  Academy  for  Girls,  two  large  public  schools, 
the  Cathedral  School,  and  Commercial  College  for  Boys,  and  a number  of  smaller 
private  schools. 

Natchez  possesses  handsome  churches  of  every  denomination,  and  three 
well-conducted  orphan  asylums.  The  large  hospital  at  Natchez  is  a splendid 
institution  in  every  respect,  and  the  other  public  buildings  of  the  town  are 
equally  handsome.  The  public  school  at  Natchez  was  donated  by  Alvarez 
Fisk,  who  also  endowed  the  Fisk  library,  and  scattered  his  bequests  with  a lib- 
eral hand  in  the  little  city  he  so  loved,  and  in  which  he  spent  the  greater  por- 
tion of  the  last  forty  years  of  his  life.  This  notable  benefactor  to  learning  died 
in  1854. 

Down  the  wide,  clean  streets  of  Natchez  the  southern  breezes  blow  among 
the  spreading  branches  that  shade  its  beautiful  lawns  and  spacious  homes  ; it 
wafts  a sigh  past  the  white  gleaming  of  the  monument  over  the  Confederate 
dead,  and  a dirge  of  mourning  and  song  of  praise  above  the  grave  of  one  of  the 
greatest  orators  the  South  has  ever  known — Sargent  S.  Prentiss.  Softly  blows 
the  south  wind,  and  on  its  wings  it  bears  the  breath  of  the  roses  that  a southern 
spring  held  out  to  tempt  the  fealty  of  a Spanish  cavalier  200  years  ago. 

Natchez  has  possessed,  through  birth  and  residence,  many  a brilliant  mind 
that  has  written  its  sign  manual  with  more  or  less  distinctness  upon  the  age  in 
which  it  lived.  In  New  Orleans,  to-day,  lives  a good  man,  expert  in  the  prac- 
tice of  the  law,  who,  though  loved  and  honored  for  his  own  merits,  seems  ever 
to  dwell  in  the  eyes  of  the  people,  in  a reflected  halo  cast  about  him  from  the 
memory  of  his  celebrated  father,  S.  S.  Prentiss,  of  Natchez,  Miss.  This  world- 
famous  orator  was  born  in  Portland,  Me.,  September  30,  1808. 

He  graduated  from  Bowdoin  College  in  1826  and  removed  to  Mississippi 
in  1827.  In  1829  he  was  admitted  to  practice  at  the  bar  of  Natchez,  and  in 
1835  the  State  of  Mississippi  sent  him  to  the  Legislature.  In  1837  he  was 
elected  by  the  Whig  party  to  a seat  in  the  lower  house  of  Congress.  He  chal- 
lenged unsuccessfully  the  seat  of  his  Democratic  competitor,  but  supported  his 
claim  in  a speech  which  established  his  reputation  as  a parlimentary  debater. 
The  result  of  his  speeches  made  in  the  next  congressional  campaign  was  his 
successful  election  by  a large  majority.  From  1840  to  1844  he  canvassed  the 
State  in  opposition  to  the  repudiation  of  its  bonded  debt.  When  that  measure 
was  passed,  in  1845,  Mr.  Prentiss  left  Natchez  and  joined  the  legal  fraternity  of 
New  Orleans,  where  his  reputation  for  eloquence  and  analytic  power  in  the 
practice  of  the  civil  law  was  brilliantly  sustained.  He  died  at  Longwood, 
near  Natchez,  Miss.,  on  July  1,  1850. 

Mr.  Henry  Adams  Bullard,  Associate  Justice  of  the  Supreme  Court  of 
Louisiana  for  twelve  years,  delivered  a eulogy  on  Prentiss  before  the  New  Or- 
leans bar,  December  6,  1850,  that  for  exquisite  imagery,  rounded  periods  and 
eloquence  might  be  likened  to  one  of  Prentiss’  own.  After  a splendid  introduc- 
tion of  his  subject,  Judge  Bullard  went  on  to  say:  “ Prentiss  possessed  the 

most  brilliant  imagination  of  any  man  of  this  day.  He  had  more  of  the  talent 
of  the  Italian  improvisatore  than  any  man  living,  or  who  ever  lived,  in  this 
county.  It  is  a great  error  to  suppose  that  he  was  a mere  declaimer.  On  the 
contrary,  there  was  found  always  at  the  bottom  a solid  basis  of  deep  thought. 
He  never  preached  without  a text.  Fven  on  convival  occasions,  when  he  gave 
full  reign  to  his  fancy,  his  oratory  consisted  of  something  more  than  merely 
gorgeous  imagery,  sparkling  wit  and  brilliant  periods.  He  sought  to  illustrate 
some  great  truth.  Such  was  his  remarkable  gift  of  throwing  an  attractive 
beauty  over  every  subject  upon  which  his  imagination  lighted,  that  under 
his  hand  a truism  became  a novelty.  . . . As  a lawyer,  I can  testify  that 


66 


THE  MEMENTO 


Prentiss  was  diligent — even  indefatigable — in  his  researches.  His  arguments 
were  always  solid  and  thorough.  . . . He  never  drove  a nail  that  he  did 

not  clinch  it.  The  fame  of  such  a man  could  not  be  narrowed  down  to  the 
limits  of  a single  State  or  section  of  our  country.  It  extended  over  the  Union. 
It  shone  with  splendor  in  the  halls  of  Congress;  when  Prentiss  appeared  and 
poured  forth  the  torrent  of  his  gorgeous  elocution  his  auditors  sprang  to  their 
feet  under  the  influence  of  his  magic  power.  ’ ’ 

Another  well-known  name  in  the  literary  world,  is  that  of  Mrs.  Jeannette 
Walworth,  the  authoress,  a resident  of  Natchez  for  many  years.  Mrs.  Wal- 
worth has  published  a number  of  valuable  books  and  written  innumerable 
stories  for  the  leading  Northern  magazines.  Her  children’s  stories,  in  the  juve- 
nile issue  of  Frank  Leslie’ s Magazine , are  among  its  most  attractive  features. 

The  Natchez  Hotel  is  a creditable  feature  of  the  fair  old  Southern  city.  It 
was  built  in  beautiful  style,  by  wealthy  citizens,  about  six  years  ago.  Its  inte- 
rior arrangements  resemble  somewhat  those  of  the  Ebbitt  House  in  Washing- 
ton, except  that  they  are  on  an  improved  order.  The  Natchez  Hotel  has  been 
fitted  up  and  furnished  throughout  with  the  utmost  taste  and  luxury,  by  Mr. 
Duy,  the  present  manager  of  the  new  Carroll  Plotel,  in  Vicksburg,  Miss.  The 
Natchez  compares  favorably  with  any  of  the  leading  hotels  in  the  South  in  its 
artistic  finish,  interior  comfort  and  excellent  cuisine. 


OLD  AND  NEW  NA  TCHEZ. 


67 


EXTRACTS  FROM  THE  NATCHEZ  DEMOCRAT. 

I AM  truly  indebted  for  several  valuable  extracts  of  useful  information  from 
the  official  paper  of  the  City  of  Natchez,  and  county  of  Adams,  Mississippi, 
“ The  Democrat ,”  now  in  its  31st  year  of  usefulness,  and  the  ever- vigilant  and 
conscientious  defender  of  the  citizens’  interests  of  this  section. 

Steve  Power. 

[Extract  from  Editor  Diers’  “ Letter  on  Beautiful  Natchez.”  Special  to  the  New  Orleans 

Daily  Picayune , July  6,  1896.] 

* * * Before  closing,  the  writer  would  like  to  say  that  there  is  an 

impression  abroad  that  some  parts  of  Mississippi  is  situated  in  a swamp,  and 
that  her  surroundings  are  extremely  unhealthy.  This  is  an  impression  we  would 
like  to  correct.  Natchez  is  located  upon  a perpendicular  bluff  that  rises  265 
feet  from  the  shores  of  the  river  that  laves  its  base,  and  that  it  is  constantly 
fanned  by  the  breezes  from  the  Gulf  of  Mexico,  which  contribute  not  a little  to 
the  health  and  salubrity  of  its  climate.  An  examination  of  its  health  statistics 
will  show  that  it  is  one  of  the  healthiest  cities  of  the  country,  which  would  not 
be  the  case  were  it  located  in  the  swamps  of  the  Mississippi  river.  Indeed,  it 
is  not  infrequently  the  case  that  consumptives  and  persons  suffering  from  other 
pulmonary  complaints  are  advised  to  come  to  Natchez,  and  the  results  are 
almost  invariably  beneficial.  In  time,  Natchez  hopes,  with  her  increasing  hotel 
facilities,  to  become  a favorite  resort  of  Northern  people  desiring  to  winter  in 
the  South.  William  A.  Diers. 


J'lATCJlEZ  TflE  FIRST  IN  MANY  THINGS. 

It  is  stated  that  the  first  Woman’s  Missionary  Association  in  the  State  of 
Mississippi  was  organized  in  Natchez  away  back  in  1830.  Unless  we  are 
greatly  mistaken  the  good  citizens  of  Natchez,  in  the  early  days  of  our  State, 
were  the  pioneers  in  all  the  religious  work  of  the  southwest,  as  well  as  in  edu- 
cational affairs.  Jefferson  College,  at  Washington,  which  is  still  in  existence 
and  flourishing,  was  the  first  seat  of  learning  of  the  kind  inaugurated  in  the 
Southwest,  and  the  first  free  school  in  the  State  was  opened  in  Natchez — 
being  the  Institute,  donated  by  Alvarez  Fisk  for  the  education,  forever,  of  the 
white  children  of  the  city.  The  first  female  academy  in  Mississippi,  was 
established  at  Washington,  Adams  County,  Mississippi.  The  first  railroad  ever 
constructed  in  Mississippi  had  its  beginning  here.  In  many  other  matters 
Natchez  also  led  all  the  other  sections  of  the  State,  and  the  people  in  some  of 
the  “cow  counties  ” still  regard  us  as  “ old-time,  stiff-backed  aristocrats,”  who 
have  nothing  in  common  with  them,  and  who  look  down  upon  them  as  our 
inferiors.  In  fact  this  doctrine  has  been  preached  to  them  recently,  and  they 
were  foolish  enough  to  believe  it. 

The  Uouisville  Courier  Journal  says  : The  first  steamboat  built  in  Pittsburgh 
or  anywhere  else  was  the  New  Orleans,  built  by  Fulton  in  1811.  The  next  was 
the  Comet,  built  by  D.  French  for  Samuel  Smith,  in  1812-13.  She  was  a stern- 
wheel  craft,  with  a vibrating  cylinder.  She  came  to  this  city  in  1813,  went  to 
New  Orleans  in  1814,  made  two  trips  between  that  city  and  Natchez,  and  was 
sold  to  a planter,  who  took  the  engine  out  of  her  and  put  it  up  in  a cotton-gin. 
In  1813  and  1814  the  Vesuvius  and  SEtna  were  built  at  Pittsburgh.  In  the 
spring  of  1814  the  Vesuvius  left  Pittsburgh  for  New  Orleans.  In  July,  1816, 
she  burned  at  that  city.  The  iFtna  went  to  New  Orleans  in  March,  1815,  and 
ran  between  that  city  and  Natchez  until  she  was  worn  out.  The  above  are 


68 


THE  MEMENTO 


among  the  very  first  steamboats  built  at  Pittsburgh.  After  1814  Brownsville 
became  noted  for  building  boats. 

NATCHEZ  CAJVIP,  No.  20,  U.  C.  V. 

At  a regular  meeting  of  Natchez  Camp,  No.  20,  United  Confederate  Veter- 
ans, held  on  Tuesday  evening  last,  the  following  officers  were  elected  to  serve 
for  the  ensuing  term,  viz. : 

Commander — Frederick  J.  V.  UeCand. 

First  Lieutenant  Commander — Simon  Mayer. 

Second  Lieutenant  Commander- — -Austin  W.  Smith. 

Third  Lieutenant  Commander — C.  A.  Bessac. 

Adjutant  and  Corresponding  Secretary — Joseph  B.  O’Brien. 

Surgeon — A.  J.  Hall. 

Commissary — W.  B.  Irvine. 

Quartermaster — S.  E.  Rumble. 

Color  Sergeant — -John  Whalen. 

Color  Guard — T.  L.  Bauer.  / 

B.  D.  Guice. 

Financial  Secretary — E.  J.  Perrault. 

Treasurer — J.  W.  Henderson. 

Executive  Committee — Joseph  B.  O’Brien,  T.  L.  Bauer,  W.  H.  H.  Fox, 
E.  J.  Perrault  and  C.  W.  Babbitt. 

Relief  Committee — E.  J.  Perrault,  W.  B.  Irvine,  E.  L.  Hopkins,  W.  H. 
Wilson  and  Josiah  Grover. 

Commander  LeCand,  who  has  served  for  the  camp  for  the  several  terms 
past  as  its  chief  officer,  emphatically  declined  a re-election,  but  his  declination 
was  refused  and  he  was  unanimously  re-elected  despite  his  protestations.  He 
has  made  a good,  active,  energetic  officer  and  the  camp  was  unwilling  to  lose 
his  services. 

“THE  THREE  GUARDSMEN-” 

There  arrived  by  the  early  train  in  this  city  yesterday  morning  Messrs. 
Willie  Stout,  Hazlewood  Farish  and  Willie  Bob  Farish,  accompanied  by  Mr. 
Charles  Elliott,  all  of  whom  belong  in  Issaquena  county,  and  will  enter  the 
eighty-fifth  session  of  Jefferson  College.  Of  the  three  first  named  a corre- 
spondent of  the  Jackson  News  wrote  during  the  late  encampment:  “You  have  in 
the  Issaquena  Guards,  Captain  Livingston  Peyton,  three  first  cousins  not 
yet  sixteen  years  old,  Willie  Stout,  Hazlewood  Farish  and  Willie  Bob  Farish, 
great-grand-nephews  of  Col.  Jefferson  Davis,  the  immortal  hero.  The  Farish 
boys  are  nephews  of  Gen.  Nat.  H.  Harris,  one  of  Mississippi’s  most  distin- 
guished soldiers.  All  honor  to  Mississippi’s  National  Guard.  The  material 
that  composes  the  August,  ’96,  military  encampment  gives  assurances  of  future 
protection  should  the  State  or  our  common  county  ever  need  their  valuable 
services.” 

OCTOBER  WEATHER. 

The  following  data,  compiled  from  the  weather  records  by  the  Vicksburg 
bureau,  covering  the  period  given  for  the  month  of  October,  should  prove  of 
value  and  interest  in  anticipating  the  more  important  meteorological  elements, 
and  the  range  in  which  such  variations  may  be  expected  to  keep  for  the  coming 
month  of  October,  1896.  The  record  is  for  the  month  of  October  for  twenty- 
four  years: 

Temperature : 

Mean  or  normal  temperature,  65  degrees. 

The  warmest  month  was  that  of  1883,  with  an  average  of  71  degrees. 


OLD  AND  NEW  NATCHEZ. 


69 


The  coldest  month  was  that  of  1875,  with  an  average  of  60  degrees, 

The  highest  temperature  was  94  degrees  on  October  5,  1884. 

The  lowest  temperature  was  34  degrees  on  October  31,  1887. 

Average  date  on  which  first  ‘ ‘killing’  ’ frost  occurred  in  autumn,  October  27. 

Average  date  on  which  last  “killing”  frost  occurred  in  spring,  March  24. 

Precipitation  (Rain  and  Melted  Snow): 

Average  for  the  month  2.62  inches. 

Average  number  of  days  with  .01  of  an  inch  or  more,  6. 

The  greatest  monthly  precipitation  was  9.69  inches,  in  1881. 

The  least  monthly  precipitation  was  0.00  inches  in  1874. 

The  greatest  amount  of  precipitation  recorded  in  any  24  consecutive  hours 
was  9.44  inches  on  October  27,  1881. 

Average  number  of  clear  daj^s,  16. 

Average  number  of  partly  cloudy  days,  8. 

Average  number  of  cloudy  days,  7. 

The  prevailing  winds  have  been  from  the  north. 

The  highest  velocity  of  the  wind  was  thirty-two  miles,  from  the  west,  on 
October  3,  1894. 

MISSISSIPPI  VOTE. 

As  the  presidential  election  is  now  close  at  hand,  taking  place  but  a week 
from  to-day,  it  will  doubtless  prove  of  both  interest  and  value  to  those  inter- 
ested in  political  matters  'to  reproduce  the  following  from  the  Mississippi  Bureau 
of  the  New  Orleans  Picayune , which  indicates  the  vote  of  this  State  from  1872 
to  1895,  inclusive: 

1872 — Republican,  82,175;  Democrat,  47,288.  Total,  129,463. 

1876 — Republican,  52,605;  Democrat,  112,173.  Total,  164,778. 

1880 — Republican,  34,854;  Democrat,  75,750;  Greenback,  5,797.  Total, 
1 17,078. 

1884 — Republican,  43,509;  Democrat,  76,510.  Total,  120,019. 

1888 — Republican,  30,096;  Democrat,  85,471.  Total,  115,567. 

1892 — Republican,  1,406;  Democrat,  40,237;  People’s,  10,256;  Prohibi- 
tion, 610.  Total,  52,509.  Mr.  Cleveland  received  79.20  per  cent. of  the  total  vote. 

3:89 5 — The  total  vote  for  governor  this  year  was  64,339,  of  which  A.  J.  Mc- 
Daurin  received  46,873  and  Frank  Burkitt  17,466. 

The  aggregate  vote  in  the  last  congressional  election  (1894)  was  only  39,- 
439.  The  total  registered  vote  of  the  State  was  then  125,000,  so  that  85,561 
stayed  away  from  the  polls. 

These  statistics  should  be  preserved  for  future  reference  and  comparison 
after  the  election  takes  place  in  this  State. 

IT  WAS  A COMPLETE  SUCCESS. 

We  are  gratified  to  learn  that  the  “ Chrysanthemum  Show’  ’ given  at  “Mag- 
nolia Vale,”  the  charming  residence  of  Mrs.  R.  F.  Learned,  on  Thursday  last, 
for  the  benefit  of  the  Protestant  Orphan  Asylum,  was  a most  complete  success, 
socially,  financially  and  in  all  other  respects.  The  proceeds  aggregated  (gross) 
the  handsome  sum  of  $92.45,  from  the  following  sources,  viz.:  Flowers  sold 

by  Miss  Norma  Grillo,  $29. 10;  flowers  sold  at  the  garden,  $37.75;  door  receipts, 
$9.30;  lunch,  $13.80,  and  contributed,  $2.50.  The  ladies  who  had  the  enter- 
tainment in  charge  on  behalf  of  the  orphans,  desire  , to  return  their  thanks 
especially  to  Miss  Norma  Grillo,  Mrs.  Wilmer  H.  Shields,  Mrs.  Dr.  West  and 
Miss  Josie  Chamberlain  for  their  untiring  and  laborious  efforts  to  make  the  affair 
both  successful  and  enjoyable.  It  is  needless  to  say  that  the  prayers  of  the  ben- 
eficiaries in  the  asylum  will  go  out  in  behalf  of  these  good  ladies  and  all  who 
helped  swell  the  fund  that  goes  to  them  for  their  support  and  subsistence. 


70 


THE  MEMENTO 


A VEHERABLaE  JVIASON. 

Jackson,  Miss.,  Dec.  7,  1896. 

Editor  Natchez  Democrat  : 

The  Masonic  Grand  Dodge  has  a regulation,  adopted  several  years  ago, 
that  requires  a certificate  of  exemption  from  dues  to  be  issued  to  all  members 
who  have  been  in  affiliation  twenty-one  years,  and  who  have  reached  the  age 
of  seventy.  Up  to  this  date  559  certificates  have  been  issued,  and  while  many 
who  are  on  this  honor  roll  have  since  passed  over  the  river,  their  families  prize 
these  evidences  of  zeal  and  fidelity  in  the  Order.  In  only  two  or  three  instances 
have  certificates  been  issued  to  brethren  who  have  been  in  continuous  member- 
ship for  half  a century.  It  has  just  been  my  pleasure  to  issue  certificate  No. 
559,  on  the  application  of  Harmony  Lodge,  No.  1,  to  Brother  William  T.  Martin, 
who  was  “raised”  in  Locke  Lodge,  No.  52,  in  1848,  and  who  affiliated  with 
Harmony  Lodge,  No.  1,  in  1849,  and  has  been  in  continuous  membership  since 
— a total  of  48  years.  An  instance  of  such  zeal  and  fidelity  is  worthy  of  special 
note,  and  I have  no  doubt  the  appreciative  brethren  of  Natchez  will  in  some 
suitable  way  govern  themselves  accordingly. 

When  the  Grand  Lodge  met  in  Natchez  in  1893,  that  being  the  seventy- 
fifth  or  “Diamond  Anniversary,”  the  delegates  were  delighted  to  hear  the 
words  of  warm  welcome  from  this  venerable  craftsman,  brave  soldier  and  accom- 
plished statesman.  His  happy  references  to  the  aims  and  objects  of  Free 
Masonry,  to  its  charitable,  benevolent,  fraternal  and  conservative  spirit  and 
mission,  and  to  the  universality  and  stability  of  the  ancient  craft,  will  not  soon 
be  forgotten. 

When  his  designs  upon  the  trestle-board  of  life  are  all  worked  out,  and 
when  he  shall  reach  the  end  of  his  pilgrimage,  I am  sure  that  the  welcome 
plaudit  will  greet  him  as  he  touches  the  other  shore,  “ Well  done,  good  and 
faithful  servant!”  Very  truly, 

J.  L.  Power,  Grand  Secretary. 

TO  CUKE  MEAT. 

In  view  of  the  fact  that  “ hog-killing  time”  is  now  upon  us,  a certain  and 
never-failing  recipe  for  the  proper  curing  of  the  meat  becomes  almost  invalu- 
able. Our  excellent  friend,  Mr.  P.  B.  January,  has  kindly  furnished  us  with  a 
formula  used  by  him  for  many  years,  and  he  thinks  it  excels  any  other  that  has 
ever  been  used.  It  has  been  tested  in  the  counties  of  Jefferson,  Adams  and 
Claiborne  for  many  years,  and  the  decision,  Mr.  January  says,  has  always  been 
the  same:  “Too  good  to  be  lost!”  Here  is  the  formula  and  method  of  smoking 
and  packing:  “Recipe  for  curing  pork  or  beef. — I will  say  in  the  beginning 
that  I have  used  this  recipe  for  twenty-five  or  thirty  years,  and  by  close  obser- 
vance of  it  have  not  lost  one  joint  of  meat.  In  the  first  place  prepare  a brine, 
consisting  of  ten  gallons  of  rain  water,  to  which  is  added  nine  pounds  of  salt, 
two  ounces  saltpetre,  two  pounds  white  sugar,  one  quart  of  nice  syrup,  and  (if 
beef  be  tough)  four  ounces  saleratus.  Boil  and  skim  until  the  brine  is  clear 
and  sweet  to  the  taste;  then  let  it  get  thoroughly  cool,  yes,  cold.  Let  your 
meat,  too,  be  void  of  animal  heat,  to  the  very  marrow.  Have  separate  barrels 
for  hams,  shoulders,  middlings,  and  jowls.  If  you  find  fermentation  in  the  brine 
going  on  too  rapidly  within  two  or  three  weeks,  raise  the  meat  for  twenty-four 
hours,  wipe  dry,  re-boil  or  make  new  the  brine,  replace  the  meat — the  middlings 
for  two  more  weeks,  shoulders  three,  and  hams  four.  This  meat  can  be  used 
from  the  brine  or  hung  and  smoked,  always  with  green  hickory  chips,  and  I 
would  suggest,  provided  the  meat  lasts  thus  long,  to  be  careful  not  to  smoke 
too  long,  and  always  to  hang  the  meat  with  the  big  end  up.” 


OLD  AND  NE  W NA  TCHEZ. 


7r 


THE  BOARD  OF  SUPERVISORS. 

The  Adams  County  Board  of  Supervisors  will  hold  their  last  regular  meet- 
ing for  the  year  1896  at  the  courthouse  to-morrow  (Monday)  forenoon,  and  will 
probably  be  in  session  for  several  days.  The  board,  which  is  practically  a new 
one,  has  discharged  all  the  duties  devolving  upon  it  during  the  past  year  in 
the  most  acceptable,  faithful  and  creditable  manner,  and  shown  itself  entirely 
competent  to  manage  the  internal  affairs  of  the  county  for  which  it  has  legis- 
lated. The  members  assumed  their  duties  like  old  hands  at  the  helm,  and  their 
actions  ever  since  have  all  been  directed  toward  furthering  all  the  material 
interests  of  the  county.  The  present  members  of  that  body  will  continue  to 
serve  three  years  longer,  and  we  are  satisfied  their  entire  administration  will 
meet  with  the  hearty  endorsement  of  all  the  citizens  of  the  county. 


QUITE  A COjVIPLillVIEHT. 

We  make  our  acknowledgments  to  our  excellent  cotemporary,  the  Con- 
cordia (Vidalia)  Sentinel  for  the  following  appreciated  mention  : “We  observe 

that  our  able  and  esteemed  Natchez  cotemporary,  the  Daily  Democrat , has 
dropped  its  quarto  form,  and  come  back  to  its  old,  familiar  shape — four  pages, 
with  seven  columns  to  the  page — which  pleases  its  readers,  no  doubt.  The  Dem- 
ocrat is  one  of  the  neatest,  cleanest  small  dailies  in  the  South,  and  is  considered 
to  be  the  leading  daily  of  the  State  of  Mississippi.  We  wish  it  continued  suc- 
cess, financially,  and  a constant  growth  and  expansion  in  influence.” 


72 


THE  MEMENTO 


Residence  of  Sargent  S.  Prentiss. 


Grave  of  Sargent  S.  Prentiss. 


OLD  AND  NEW  NA  TCHEZ. 


73 


NATCHEZ,  1896.— ITS  MANY  ADVANTAGES. 


BOARD  OF  ALiDERJVIElNL 


City  Hall,  January  6,  1896. 


T the  annual  meeting  of  the  Mayor  and  Board  of  Aldermen  of  city  of 


Natchez,  held  this  day  at  12  o’clock  m.,  in  compliance  with  Section  20  of 
the  city  charter,  for  the  purpose  of  organization  and  the  selection  of  subordinate 
officers  for  the  ensuing  year.  Present:  Mayor  W.  G.  Benbrook.  Aldermen — 

J.  Foggo  Dixon,  John  Grady,  Ben  C Geisenberger,  F.  J.  V.  EeCand,  Sim.  H. 
lyOwenburg,  P.  W.  Mulvihill,  Joseph  Reale.  Absent — Alderman  A.  Eltringham. 

On  motion,  Mr.  Wm.  A.  Diers  was  requested  to  act  as  Clerk  of  the  Council 
at  the  present  meeting. 

Alderman  Lo  wen burg  moved  that  the  Board  proceed  to  the  election  of  sub- 
ordinate officers,  which  motion  was  adopted. 

The  Board  proceeded  to  ballot  for  the  respective  candidates  for  the  subordi- 
nate offices  aforesaid,  with  Aldermen  Grady  and  EeCand  as  tellers,  who  re- 
ported that  the  following  named  candidates  had  received  a majority  of  the  votes 
cast  for  the  respective  offices,  and  they  were  declared  by  the  Mayor  duly  elected 
for  the  ensuing  year: 

For  City  Clerk — Thomas  R.  Quarterman. 

For  Assessor  and  Tax  Collector — Frank  J.  Arrighi. 

For  Treasurer — Fred  J.  Maher. 

For  Marshal — Walter  McCrea. 

For  Surveyor — Charles  W.  Babbit. 

For  Health  Officer— J.  C.  French,  M.  D. 

For  Solicitor — T.  Otis  Baker. 

Alderman  Mulvihill  offered  the  following  resolution,  which  was  adopted: 

Resolved , That  the  regular  meeting  days  of  this  Board  be  fixed  for  the  first 
and  third  Thursdays  of  each  month  at  4 o’clock  p.  m.;  that  the  rules  of  order 
governing  the  old  Board  be  adopted  for  this  Board,  and  that  all  unfinished  busi- 
ness be  transferred  from  the  old  to  the  new  committees. 

The  Board  then  adjourned  until  the  next  regular  meeting,  January  16,  1896. 


Monday,  January  6,  1896. — At  a meeting  of  the  members-elect  of  the 
Board  of  Supervisors  of  Adams  County,  Miss.,  held  at  the  court-house,  in  the 
city  of  Natchez,  on  Monday,  the  6th  day  of  January,  A.  D.  1896. 

Present — James  S.  Fleming,  member  first  district  ; Daniel  F.  Ashford, 
member  second  district  ; E.  G.  Baker,  member  third  district  ; Hugh  Junkin, 
member  fourth  district  ; James  H.  Rowan,  member  fifth  district  ; S.  Duncan 
Baker,  sheriff;  John  F.  Jenkins,  clerk. 

On  motion  of  Mr.  E.  G.  Baker,  James  S.  Fleming  was  duly  elected  presi- 
dent of  the  Board.  Mr.  Fleming  thereupon  declared  the  Board  duly  organized; 
and  thereupon  S.  Duncan  Baker,  sheriff,  opened  the  Board  as  required  by  law. 
The  honorable  president  then  announced  the  Board  duty  and  legally  constituted 
and  opened  for  the  transaction  of  business. 

In  the  matter  of  the  final  settlement  of  C.  L.  Tillman,  the  county  treasurer, 
to  January,  1896, — said  final  settlement  having  been  filed,  with  accompanying 


Wm.  A.  Diers, 


City  Clerk,  pro  tevi. 


BOARD  OF  SUPERVISORS. 


74 


THE  MEMENTO 


vouchers — the  board  was  engagedfor  some  time  in  an  examination  and  verifica- 
tion thereof;  and,  having  found  the  same  correctly  stated  and  properly  avouched 
in  all  things,  and  the  said  settlement  showing  the  following  balances,  to-wit: 
General  county  fund,  $6,748.26;  Railroad  sinking  fund,  $8,673.85;  Bridge 
fund,  $4,048;  Institute  fund,  $23.09;  Railroad  coupon  fund,  $136.96;  County 
school  fund,  $13, 186. 15 — and  the  said  Board,  as  a committee  of  the  whole,  having 
counted  the  cash  in  the  treasury,  together  with  the  $2,000  in  State  bonds,  and 
found  the  same  on  hand  in  money  and  bonds  as  aforesaid,  it  is  now  ordered,  on 
motion  of  Mr.  Ashford,  that  said  final  settlement  be  approved,  confirmed,  allowed,, 
and  recorded. 

On  motion  of  Mr.  Rowan  it  is  ordered  that  the  Board  do  now  adjourn  until 
to-morrow  at  11  o’clock  a.  m. 

James  S.  Fleming,  President  Board  of  Supervisors. 

Attest  : John  F.  Jenkins,  Clerk. 

Note — The  City  of  Natchez  “Improvement  Bonds,’’  and  County  Bonds,  can  not  be  bought  except  at. 
a premium — 1895-*96. 


BACKING  INSTITUTIONS. 

Statement  showing  the  condition  of  the  Britton  & Koontz  Bank,  of  Natchez,. 
Miss.,  on  December  17,  1896.  Published  by  direction  of  Chapter  XIV  of  Anno- 
tated Code  of  1892: 

Resources. — Doans  and  discounts,  on  personal  endorsements,  real  estate, 
or  collateral  securities,  $386,099.85;  overdrafts,  secured  and  unsecured,. 
$2,329.52;  stocks  and  bonds,  $58,384.43;  banking  house  and  fixtures,  $15,000.00;; 
demand  loans  on  cotton  and  other  securities,  $202,662.66;  sight  exchange, 
$166,238.86;  cash  on  hand,  $135,253.99;  total,  $965,969.31. 

Liabilities. — Capital  paid  in,  $100,000.00;  undivided  profits,  less  ex- 
penses and  taxes,  $13,502.50;  individual  deposits  subject  to  check,  $757,544.80; 
time  certificates  of  deposit,  $93,518.49;  due  other  banks,  $1,403.52;  total,. 
$965,969.31. 

I,  R.  I.  Metcalfe,  cashier  of  Britton  & Koontz  Bank,  of  Natchez,  Missis- 
sippi, do  hereby  certify  that  the  foregoing  is  a true,  full  and  exact  statement  of 
the  assets  and  liabitities  of  said  bank  on  the  day  and  date  named  therein,  as 
shown  by  the  books  of  same.  R.  I.  Metcalfe,  Cashier. 

Attest:  R.  F.  Learned,  Geo.  W.  Koontz,  Directors. 


Statement  showing  the  condition  of  the  First  Natchez  Bank,  of  Natchez,. 
Miss.,  on  December  17,  1896.  Published  by  direction  of  Chapter  XIV  of 
Annotated  Code  of  1892: 

Resources.  — Loans  and  discounts,  on  personal  endorsements,  real  estate  or 
collateral  securities,  $351,173.28,  overdrafts,  secured  and  unsecured,  $7,640.44; 
stock  and  bonds,  $34,007.73;  banking-house,  furniture  and  fixtures,  $9,593.50;: 
demand  loans,  $86,032.35;  sight  exchange,  $63,740.50;  cash  on  hand,. 
$60,606.35.  Total,  $612,794. 15. 

Liabilities. — Capital  paid  in,  $100,000.00;  surplus,  $30,000.00;  undivided 
profits,  $16,346.43;  individual  deposits  subject  to  check,  $466,447.72.  Total, 
$612,794.15. 

I,  R.  Lee  Wood,  cashier  of  the  First  Natchez  Bank,  of  Natchez,  Missis- 
sippi, do  hereby  certify  that  the  foregoing  is  a true,  full  and  exact  statement  of 
the  assets  and  liabilities  of  said  bank  on  the  day  and  date  named  therein,  as 
shown  by  the  books  of  same.  R.  Lee  Wood,  Cashier 

Attest : A.  G.  Campbell,  Louis  Botto,  Directors. 


OLD  AND  NEW  NA  TCHEZ. 


75 


Statement  showing  the  condition  of  the  Natchez  Savings  Bank  and  Loan 
and  Trust  Co.,  of  Natchez,  Mission  December  17,  1896.  Published  by  direction 
of  Chapter  XIV  of  Annotated  Code  of  1892: 

Resources. — Loans  and  discounts,  on  personal  endorsements,  real  estate  or 

collateral  securities,  $86,245.29;  overdrafts  secured, ; demand  loans  on  cotton, 

$20,873.66;  stocks  and  bonds,  $3,541.86;  furniture  and  fixtures,  $2,276.65; 
expenses,  $4,026.61;  sight  exchange,  cash  due  by  other  banks,  $24,242.75; 
cash,  on  hand,  $10,479.03.  Total,  $151,685.85. 

Liabilities. — Capital  paid  in,  $25,000.00;  undivided  profits,  $1,580.04; 
individual  deposits  subject  to  check,  $76,821.56;  time  certificates  of  deposit, 
$48,284.25.  Total,  $151,685.85. 

I,  Abe  Moses,  cashier  of  the  Natchez  Savings  Bank,  of  Natchez,  Miss.,  do 
hereby  certify  that  the  foregoing  is  a true,  full  and  exact  statement  of  the  assets 
and  liabilities  of  said  bank  on  the  day  and  date  named  therein,  as  shown  by  the 
books  of  same.  Abe  Moses,  Cashier. 

SCJdOOLiS  Af4D  COLLEGES. 

Miss  Alline  M.  Sniffen’s  private  school  for  girls  and  boys  will  commence 
its  twenty-fourth  session  on  Tuesday,  September  1,  1896.  Mrs.  Josie  Sniffen 
and  Miss  A.  M.  Sniffen,  teachers,  603  State  street. 

Natchez  Female  College  will  reopen  September  14,  at  beautiful  “ Mel- 
mont.”  Seven  acres  of  magnificent  grounds  and  an  elegant  building.  Send 
for  new  catalogue.  J.  H.  Davis,  S.  M.,  C.  K.,  principal. 

The  Natchez  College  for  Colored  Students  has  been  a success  for  years. 

Mrs.  Rose’s  school  will  reopen  September  21,  1896.  For  terms  inquire  at 
507  Washington  street. 

Stanton  College,  for  young  ladies,  Miss  M.  L.  Prince,  principal,  session  of 
1896-97,  first  term  begins  September  21.  For  catalogue  or  special  information, 
address  S.  W.  Adams,  business  manager. 

Cathedral  School  studies  will  be  resumed  Tuesday,  September  1,  1896. 
For  terms  and  particulars  communicate  with  the  principal,  Brother  Celestin. 

St.  Joseph’s  School,  Natchez,  Miss.,  conducted  by  the  Sisters  of  Charity, 
will  resume  studies  Tuesday,  September  1,  1896.  The  course  of  study  pursued 
at  this  institution  embraces  all  the  branches  of  a thorough  English  education; 
also  music,  drawing,  painting,  plain  and  ornamental  needlework. 

Jefferson  Military  College,  Washington,  Miss.,  six  miles  east  of  Natchez, 
for  boys  and  young  men.  Eighty-fifth  session  opens  September  17th.  Com- 
plete courses  in  most  important  branches  of  a liberal  education.  Thoroughly 
prepares  for  business  or  for  higher  institutions.  Laboratories,  library  and  new 
gymnasium.  Expense,  $13.00  per  month.  For  catalogue  address  j.  S.  Ray- 
mond, superintendent. 

INTELLIGENT  FARMING. 

The  South , published  at  Ellisville,  Jones  county,  Miss.,  says: 

Mr.  Dick  Williams  came  to  this  county  in  1884,  and  homesteaded  160  acres 
of  pine  land,  three  miles  west  of  Ellisville,  and  improved  it.  He  has  now  one 
of  the  most  valuable  farms  in  this  county. 

He  raised  this  year,  dry  and  unseasonable  as  it  has  been,  about  $3,500 
worth  of  produce  on  about  seventy -five  acres  of  laud. 

On  thirteen  acres  he  raised  eleven  bales  of  cotton,  worth,  including  the 
seed,  $450. 

On  fourteen  acres  in  sweet  potatoes  he  raised  3,000  bushels,  worth  $1,500. 

On  three  acres  in  scuppernong  grapes,  500  gallons  of  wine,  worth '$500. 

The  remainder  was  in  corn,  oats,  hay,  Irish  potatoes,  melons  and  other 
fruits,  vegetables,  chickens,  eggs  and  butter. 


76 


THE  MEMENTO 


His  total  expense  in  making  his  crop,  including  interest  on  the  value  of 
his  improvements  and  live  stock,  will  not  exceed  $1,000. 

We  challenge  the  State  to  show  anything  better  than  this;  and  what  Mr. 
Williams  has  done  can  be  done  by  a thousand  others  with  the  same  intelligence, 
industry  and  economy. 

This  county,  with  its  unsurpassed  climate  and  healthfulness,  can  be  made 
the  garden  spot  of  the  State. 

The  pine  lands  can  be  bought  at  from  $2  to  $5  per  acre,  to  say  nothing  of 
thousands  of  acres  of  public  land  that  can  be  homesteaded  at  a total  cost  of 
about  $15  lor  160  acres. 

With  all  these  facts,  it  is  a marvel  that  men  emigrate  to  Texas  or  elsewhere 
to  find  lands  for  agricultural  purposes. 

All  that  is  required  of  a man  to  make  a fortune  are  intelligence,  industry 
and  economy. 

The  fortunes  are  here,  the  harvest  is  ripe,  but  the  laborers  are  few.  The 
South  would  welcome  one  thousand  more  such  farmers  as  Mr.  Williams  into 
this  county  with  delight. 

What  has  been  published  about  Jones  county  crops  in  1893,  can  be  accom- 
plished in  this  favored  and  health y section  yearly. 

I have  been  assured  by  those  sterling  gentlemen,  George  W.  Baynard, 
David  R.  Gunning,  Andrew  Cook,  George  M.  Brown,  David  Junkin,  John  C. 
Stowers  and  others,  that  one,  two  and  three  crops  have  been  made  yearly  on 
the  same  land,  and,  in  favorable  seasons,  four  crops. 

The  hay  crop  has  been  little  or  no  trouble  and  expense,  and  has  brought 
good  returns. 

Our  Northern  friends  who  have  settled  amongst  us  will  vouch  for  the  above 
facts,  and  the  warm  welcome  extended,  and  success  of  thrifty  farmers. 

PRICES  OF  STATE  LANDS,  JACKSON,  MISS., 
JANUARY  1,  1896. 

The  following  order,  which  is  self-explanatory,  was  to-day  made.  The 
information  will  prove  of  interest  to  all  persons  desiring  to  purchase  State  lands, 
as  the  prices  fixed  are  at  a large  reduction  on  the  present  figures. 

After  investigation  the  Governor  and  Land  Commissioner  have,  under  the 
requirements  of  Sections  2574  and  2578,  Code  1892,  this  day  fixed  the  price  per 
acre  of  State  lands  for  sale  by  this  office  as  follows: 

Swamp  lands,  at  the  statutory  minimum  price,  $1.25. 

Internal  improvement  lands,  $1.25. 

Chickasaw  school  lands,  $6. 

Forfeited  State  lands,  other  than  lands  in  cities  and  towns  and  villages,  at 
half  their  present  assessed  value. 

Lots  in  cities,  towns  and  villages,  at  one-third  their  present  assessed  value. 


S1VIAEE  FRUIT  AND  VEGETABLE  CULTIVATION, 
CANNING,  ETC. 

Upon  the  great  Jackson  route,  in  Copiah  and  neighboring  counties,  fortunes 
are  being  made  in  the  cultivation  of  vegetables  and  small  fruit,  particularly  straw- 
berries, for  the  early  Northern  markets.  The  completion  of  the  railroads  opens 
up  a splendid  field  in  the  vicinity  of  Natchez  for  the  prosecution  of  this  industry. 
Natchez  can  anticipate  crops  in  Copiah  and  Hinds  two  weeks  ; she  has  lands 
better  adapted  for  these  crops,  and  can  offer  as  speedy  transit  to  either  Chicago, 
St.  Louis  or  New  York.  The  cultivation  here  of  fruit  and  vegetables  for 
canning,  as  well  as  the  canning  of  wild  fruit,  would  prove  especially  lucrative. 


OLD  AND  NEW  NATCHEZ. 


77 


At  Pascagoula,  on  the  Gulf  coast,  the  canning  of  figs  is  proving  an  exceedingly 
profitable  business.  Here  thousands  of  bushels  of  finer  figs  than  those  of  the 
Gulf  coast  are  wasted  annually,  while  We  have,  too,  large  crops  of  wild  fruit, 
goose  plums  and  blackberries,  which  ripen  at  different  periods  and  previous  to 
the  figs.  These  fruits,  together  with  strawberries,  would  employ  a cannery 
the  entire  lengthy  summer  season.  Tomatoes,  okra,  corn,  peas  and  other  veg- 
etables suitable  for  canning,  are  cheaply  produced  here. 


WOODS. 

Oak,  the  finest  grained  in  the  country,  cypress,  catalpa,  magnolia,  ash  and 
black  walnut  are  here  in  forests,  almost  unchipped.  With  the  means  which 
Natchez  can  now  offer  of  transportation  to  the  North,  this  is  a very  desirable 
location  for  the  manufacture  of  wagon  spokes,  hubs,  carriages,  furniture,  etc. 

Small  and  large  farmers  are  needed  in  this  section.  I can  honestly  say 
Come,  examine  the  soil,  climate,  health,  and  the  peace  and  contentment  of  our 
people,  and  satisfy  yourself. 

Natchez,  Adams  County,  Mississippi,  Cotton  Receipts  (official) : Received  in 
Natchez,  Mississippi,  from  September  ist,  1895,  to  September  1st,  1896,  50,222 
bales  of  cotton  ; last  year,  65,282  bales  of  cotton. 

The  Natchez  Cotton  Mills,  1896,  manufactured  3,650  bales  of  cotton  into 
5,900,000  yards  of  cotton  cloth.  Disbursed  for  labor  and  supplies,  $186,000. 

Rosalie  Cotton  Mills  about  two- thirds  as  much  as  the  Natchez. 

R.  F.  Reamed,  Saw  Mills,  1896,  manufactured  7,500,000  feet  of  lumber. 
Disbursed  for  labor  and  supplies,  $61,500.  Small  mills  near  Natchez  probably 
as  much  more.  These  figures  are  approximately  correct.  S.  F.  Power. 


TJ-1E  JEWISH  TEJVIPUE. 

The  Jewish  community  is  not  very  strong,  numerically,  but  is  in  a most 
prosperous  and  satisfying  condition. 

According  to  the  census  of  1890  there  were  about  250  souls,  divided  into 
about  50  families,  occupying  enviable  positions  in  society  and  trade. 

They  own  the  neat  and  comfortable  house  of  worship  on  the  northeast  corner 
of  Commerce  and  Washington  streets,  with  a seating  capacity  of  about  350.  The 
temple  was  erected  in  1870,  and  the  parsonage  adjoining  the  temple  was  built 
in  1890.  The  interior  of  the  edifice  is  tastefully  fitted  up  ; the  ark,  containing 
three  copies  of  the  “Scroll  of  the  Taw”  (Pentateuch),  being  handsomely  orna- 
mented and  richly  curtained. 

The  mode  of  service  in  vogue  is  that  known  as  “ Minhag  America,”  the 
Prayer  Manual  compiled  by  Dr.  I.  M.  Wise  and  confreres. 

Since  the  existence  of  the  temple,  the  congregation  has  had  the  benefit  of 
the  ministrations  of  a number  of  very  able  Rabbis  ; notable  amongst  whom  were 
Doctors  Norden,  Stern,  Rosentreler,  Rosenfelt,  Rosesspitz,  Tevy,  Harfeld  and 
others;  but  the  height  of  its  prosperity  was  reached  under  the  spiritual  guidance 
of  Dr.  Jacob  S.  Jacobson  who  occupied  its  pulpit  for  eight  consecutive  years, 
from  1888  until  1896.  At  a late  annual  meeting  of  the  congregation  Dr.  Jacob- 
son declined  to  be  a candidate  for  re-election.  At  a subsequent  meeting,  Dr. 
Jerusalem  Moses,  a graduate  of  the  Hebrew  Union  College,  and  recently  of 
Port  Gibson,  Miss.,  was  chosen  his  successor. 

The  temporal  affairs  of  the  congregation  are  administered  by  a Board  of 
Officers,  consisting  at  present  of  Messrs.  Henry  Frank,  President;  Karl  Tehman, 
Vice-President;  A.  Wampold,  Secretary;  Ben.  C.  Geisenberger,  Treasurer; 
Adolph  Jacobs,  Monroe  Scharff,  M.  M.  Ullman,  S.  H.  Towenburg  and  Henry 
Hyams,  Directors. 


78 


THE  MEMENTO 


THE  ROJVIAN  CATHODIC  CHURCH- 

The  history  of  the  Roman  Catholic  Church  in  the  cathedral  town  of 
Natchez,  is  of  unique  and  vivid  interest. 

Conspicuous  among  the  martyr  missionaries  who  trod  the  “via  cruris" 
through  the  valley  of  the  Mississippi,  was  the  Recollect  Father  Zenobius  Membre, 
who,  in  the  spring  of  1682,  for  the  first  time,  offered  the  Holy  Sacrifice  in  the 
virgin  forest  of  the  Children  of  the  Sun. 

Time  passes  on.  Daily,  at  sunrise  and  sunset,  the  tamtam  sounds,  as  of 
old,  from  the  bluffs  of  Natchez  its  summons  to  the  red  man  to  do  homage  to  the 
Spirit.  Then  comes  the  year  1698,  and  the  Mass  bell  rings  once  more  its  silver 
benedictus  at  the  bidding  of  two  Canadian  priests  from  the  seminary  of  Quebec — 
Rev.  Francis  de  Montigny  and  Rev.  Antoine  Davion.  In  their  footsteps  follows 
Pere  de  St.  Come,  who  establishes  a permanent  mission  among  the  Indians,  and 
is  in  turn  succeeded  by  Father  Charlevoix,  in  1721. 

A colony  of  whites  is  now  established.  Missionaries  are  called  for,  and 
the  devoted  Capuchins  respond.  This  brings  us  to  the  year  1729,  made  memor- 
able by  the  massacre  of  Fort  Rosalie,  during  which  Father  du  Poisson  meets  his 
death  while  ministering  to  the  colonists  during  the  absence  of  the  resident  pas- 
tor, the  Capuchin  Father  Philibert. 

Passing  over  the  vicissitudes  of  the  Roman  Catholic  mission  during  the 
epochs  of  the  French  and  British  rule,  we  find  the  first  church  established  in 
Natchez  by  order  of  the  Spanish  king.  The  building  was  a two-story 
frame  one,  and  stood  on  Commerce  street,  over  the  spot  now  known  as  the  cen- 
ter of  Natchez.  Fathers  Savage,  White  and  McKenna  were  placed  in  charge. 

The  record  of  the  prelates  who  have  filled  the  episcopal  throne  of  Natchez 
since  this  diocese  was  made  a bishopric,  is,  like  the  history  of  its  earlier  mis- 
sionaries, phenomenal. 

First  of  these  was  the  Rt.  Rev.  John  Joseph  Chance,  the  dauntless  pioneer 
prelate,  during  whose  administration,  in  1841,  the  corner-stone  of  the  present 
Cathedral  of  St.  Mary’s  was  laid.  During  the  lifetime  of  Bishop  Chance  began 
the  ministry  of  the  late  Very  Rev.  M.  F.  Grignon,  who,  “spared  beyond  the 
allotted  span  of  life,  for  thirty-seven  years  faithful,  amid  plague  and  pestilence, 
peace  and  war,  merits  the  love  and  gratitude  of  the  congregation  he  has 
served  so  well.” 

Rt.  Rev.  James  Oliver  Van  de  Velde,  a man  whose  broad  sympathies  and 
executive  ability  have  rendered  his  life  a monumental  one,  was  the  successor  of 
Bishop  Chance,  and  was  in  turn  succeeded  by  Rt.  Rev.  William  Rider.  And 
here  we  find  inscribed  upon  the  book  of  the  Master,  a name  that  awakens  to-day, 
in  the  hearts  of  the  Catholics  of  Natchez,  the  tenderest  and  most  blessed  mem- 
ories. Sent  into  temporary  banishment  during  the  great  civil  struggle,  for 
refusing  to  make  to  the  military  authorities  a concession  he  deemed  unworthy, 
Bishop  Elder  is  known  not  only  as  the  exiled  prelate,  but  as  a father  who  labored 
in  our  midst,  during  the  yellow  fever  epidemic,  with  the  heroism  of  a Damian. 
Rt.  Rev.  William  Henry  Elder,  now  raised  to  the  Archiepiscopal  See  of  Cin- 
cinnati, was  the  first  of  the  distinguished  trio  of  prelates  who  have  gone  forth 
from  Natchez  to  labor  in  broader  fields. 

The  intellectual  powers  and  endearing  personality  of  our  recent  pastor, 
now  His  Grace  of  New  Orleans,  are  as  yet  so  fresh  in  the  memory  and  hearts 
of  our  citizens  of  every  faith  and  nationality,  that  his  work  among  us  needs  but 
a passing  mention ; its  own  good  fruits  have  become  its  noblest  tribute.  Dur- 
ing the  episcopate  of  Bishop  Jansens,  St.  Mary’s  Cathedral  was  consecrated, 
and  Rev.  Theo.  Meerschaert  raised  to  the  Bishopric  of  Indian  Territory. 

In  the  present  Bishop  of  Natchez,  Rt.  Rev.  Thos.  Heslin,  the  church  of 
Mississippi  has  at  its  head  a prelate  who  combines  the  zeal  of  the  missionary 
with  the  attainments  of  the  scholar.  Rev.  P.  C.  Hayden,  a priest  whose 


OLD  AND  NEW  NATCHEZ. 


79 


devotion  to  the  welfare  of  the  diocese  has  not  been  exceeded  by  the  zeal  of  the 
pioneer,  now  officiates  as  pastor.  Rev.  P.  C.  Hayden  is  assisted  by  Rev.  John 
Prendergast,  a young  Revite,  the  first  native  son  of  Natchez  who  has  been 
clothed  with  the  order  of  Melchisedek. 

Between  the  rude  wooden  structure  in  which  the  Spanish  hidalgo  was  wont 
to  seek  “the  right  of  sanctuary”  and  the  magnificent  Cathedral,  whose  Gothic 
beauty  is  a visible  “magnificat  to  the  Lord  of  Lords,”  imagination  can 
scarcely  picture  a greater  contrast.  In  addition  to  this,  Natchez  possesses  the 
Church  of  the  Holy  Family,  a handsome  new  structure,  erected  by  the  zeal  of 
its  late  missionary  pastor,  Father  Peters.  Father  Dermody  now  carries  on  the 
arduous  work  of  his  predecessor.  Two  large  orphan  asylums,  one  male  the 
other  female,  the  Cathedral  School  for  Boys  and  St.  Joseph  Female  Academy, 
and  two  religious  communities,  the  Brothers  of  the  Sacred  Heart  and  the 
Sisters  of  Charity,  are  supported  by  the  Catholics  of  this  city.  A school  for 
colored  children,  male  and  female,  is  attached  to  the  Church  of  the  Holy 
Family,  and  presided  over  by  nuns. 

The  diocese  of  Natchez  is  to-day  one  of  the  most  flourishing  in  the  South, 
and  to  the  thinker  or  poet  of  every  denomination,  as  well  as  to  the  Catholic 
himself,  the  fact  must  give  food  to  reflection,  that  one  of  the  noblest  Christian 
edifices  of  this  section  now  stands  upon  what,  for  aught  tradition  tells  us  to 
the  contrary,  is  the  ancient  site  of  the  Temple  of  the  Sun,  and  the  sanctuary 
lamp  now  burns  above  the  altar-place  of  the  heathen  sacrificial  fire. 

Irwin  Huntington. 

P.  S. — St.  Mary’s  Cathedral,  the  Parish  Church,  is  a handsome  Gothic 
structure  of  brick,  the  most  graceful  building  in  Natchez.  It  has  a beautiful 
and  well-proportioned  spire,  204  *4  feet  high,  surmounted  with  a cross.  In  this 
steeple  there  has  been  placed — the  result  of  a provision  in  the  will  of  Mr.  P.  H. 
McGraw,  deceased,  a wealthy  citizen  of  this  city — a fine  clock  with  four  large 
dials,  one  of  which  is  illuminated.  The  seating  capacity  of  the  church  is  750. 
The  auditorium  is,  however,  laid  out  with  broad  aisles,  and  the  accommodation 
might  be  considerably  enlarged  upon  occasions  of  necessity.  The  membership 
numbers  1,100  souls,  which  includes  many  of  our  most  excellent  citizens.  In 
connection  with  the  church  is  a Sunday  School  of  250  scholars  and  fifteen 
teachers. 

TRINITY  EPISCOPAL!  CfiURCjL 

At  a “dining”  at  the  house  of  the  late  Dr.  Stephen  Duncan,  in  the  year  1821, 
the  plan  of  erecting  Trinity  Church  was  first  conceived.  Before  many  days 
the  seed  germinated,  and  but  a short  time  elapsed  before  the  organization  was 
accomplished  through  the  earnest  efforts  of  those  most  interested,  and  old 
Trinity  stands  to-day  a noble  tribute  to  the  glory  of  God  from  the  hands  and 
hearts  of  a loving  people. 

The  Rev.  James  Pilmore  was  the  first  rector  of  the  parish,  and  on  the 
10th  day  of  May,  1822,  began  his  ministry  here  in  the  PresLyterian  church. 
So  great  was  the  need  felt  for  an  Episcopal  church  building,  and  so  eager 
was  the  desire  for  one,  that  a church  fund  started  shortly  after  that  event  was 
so  liberally  subscribed  to,  that,  in  the  space  of  one  year,  the  present  brick 
structure  was  ready  for  occupancy. 

In  1838  alterations  were  made,  and  later  improvements  and  adornments 
cause  it  to  rank  as  one  of  the  most  beautiful  places  of  worship  in  the  town. 
The  cost  of  the  building  is  estimated  at  about  $35,000.  Advantageously 
located  on  the  elevation  at  the  corner  of  Commerce  and  Washington  streets, 
the  effect  of  the  building,  with  its  Greek  outline  and  the  long  porch  flanked 
with  massive  white  columns,  is  almost  severe  in  its  elegant  and  classic  simplicity. 
The  interior,  however,  presents  a wealth  of  dark,  rich  color  tones,  which 
blend  harmoniously  with  the  sheen  of  the  chancel  decoration,  where  the  dark 


8o 


THE  MEMENTO 


purple  of  the  arching  wall  is  relieved  with  frescoes  of  gold  and  brown.  The 
floor  of  the  church  is  carpeted  in  very  dark  red,  the  chancel  carpet  being  of 
heaviest  velvet  plush  in  the  same  tint.  Both  were  the  gifts  of  the  “Ladies 
Aid  Society,’’  which  has  since  merged  itself  into  the  “Benevolent  Society,’’ 
leaving  the  care  of  the  church  interior  to  the  “Altar  Guild.’’  Most  munificent 
gifts,  both  in  money  and  memorials,  have  been  donated  by  the  church  people, 
both  at  home  and  abroad.  Among  them  are  the  handsome  brass  Trinity  lights, 
contribution  plates,  reading  stands,  cross,  the  font  of  white  marble,  crown  and 
star  of  gas  jets,  the  Litany  desk,  altar  cloths,  etc. 

The  furniture  of  the  chancel  is  of  walnut.  The  east  window  over  the 
chancel  is  of  three  panels  bearing  a beautiful  mosaic  of  stained  glass  and  a rep- 
resentation of  the  ascension.  To  the  right,  over  the  font,  is  a beautiful  picture 
window  of  “ Christ  in  the  Temple,’’  which  commemorates  the  memory  of  a 
little  boy  whose  childish  efforts  brought  much  good  to  many. 

Another  window,  “The  Angel  of  the  Resurrection,”  a wonderful  piece  of 
glass  painting,  from  Tiffany’s,  was  erected  last  year  to  the  memory  of  two  promi- 
nent membersof  Trinity. 

The  grand  organ,  to  the  left  of  the  chancel,  with  its  water-power  bellows, 
is  considered  the  finest  in  the  state,  and  was  the  gift  of  a generous  parishioner. 
Through  the  efforts  of  the  Sunday  School  Guild  and  the  liberality  of  a church- 
man, a Sunday  School  and  Parish  society  building  was  erected  several  years  ago 
on  the  lot  adjoining  the  church,  at  a cost  of  more  than  $10,000.  This  structure 
is  of  pressed  brick,  with  gray  stone  trimmings,  and  is  finished  throughout  with 
native  pine  and  windows  of  stained  glass.  In  its  tower  is  the  church  belfry. 

It  was  chiefly  through  the  efforts  of  the  late  Rev.  Alexander  Marks  that 
that  this  building  was  erected,  and  in  the  hearts  of  his  congregation  it  has  been 
dedicated  to  him  in  memory  of  his  loving  guidance,  through  fifteen  years  of 
ministry. 

The  present  rector  of  old  Trinity  is  the  Rev.  Charles  Morris,  of  Virginia, 
a man  much  beloved,  an  earnest  and  successful  worker,  and  a preacher  of  con- 
vincing eloquence.  Charlie  Compton. 

THE  PRESBYTERIAN  CHURCH- 

The  first  Presbyterian  Church  of  Natchez  dates  back  to  1817,  when  the 
Rev.  Dr.  Daniel  Smith,  from  New  England,  laboring  as  a domestic  missionary 
in  the  community,  enrolled  eight  members  and  was  invited  to  minister  to  it  as 
a stated  supply.  This  laid  the  foundation  of  this  branch  of  the  Protestant  Church 
in  Natchez,  and  represents  a body  of  faithful,  zealous  workers,  who  have  included 
in  its  membership  some  of  the  noblest  men  and  women  our  city  has  known, 
who  have  been  connected  in  every  philanthropical  and  educational  work  that 
has  redounded  in  any  way  to  the  good  of  the  community. 

As  early  as  1810  steps  had  been  taken  for  the  erection  of  a house  of  wor- 
ship, and  in  1812  the  corner-stone  was  laid.  It  was  a brick  structure  and  located 
in  the  spot  where  the  present  church  now  stands.  It  was  dedicated  in  1819,  and 
Mr.  Weir,  a native  of  Ireland,  was  elected  pastor.  The  second  pastor  of  the 
church  was  the  Rev.  Geo.  Potts,  who  found  the  roll  of  membership  49.  The 
present  handsome  and  imposing  structure  was  completed  and  dedicated  on  the 
first  Sabbath  in  January,  1830.  Dr.  Potts,  after  serving  for  13  years,  was  suc- 
ceeded by  Rev.  Geo.  Winchester,  who  took  charge  of  the  congregation  in  1837. 
Dr.  Winchester’s  labors  were  brought  to  an  end,  by  death,  in  1838.  He  was 
succeeded  by  Rev.  Jos.  B.  Stratton,  the  present  pastor  emeritus,  who,  after  52 
years  of  faithful  pastorate,  is  yet  living  in  the  midst  of  the  people,  who  still 
reverence,  respect  and  love  him.  In  the  words  of  the  venerated  Dr.  B.  M. 
Palmer,  of  New  Orleans,  addressed  to  Dr.  S.  on  his  50th  anniversary:  “During  a 
pastorate  of  50  years  you  have  touched  four  distinct  generations — the  generation 


OLD  AND  NEW  NATCHEZ. 


which  was  disappearing  when  you  first  came  upon  the  stage;  the  generation  to 
which  you  properly  belong,  followed  soon  by  that  of  your  children;  and  now  the 
patriarchal  blessing  rests  upon  the  head  of  the  children’s  children.  The  gener- 
ations that  are  to  come  will  read  the  story  of  the  long  and  useful  pastorate  and 
a fresh  benediction  will  spring  from  the  record  to  purify  and  strengthen,  to 
comfort  and  to  bless  the  troubled  hearts  that  are  yet  unborn.  I term  yours  a 
monumental  life.  It  is  a marble  shaft  lifting  its  polished  face  above  the  world, 
crowned  with  the  inscription  of  ‘ peace  on  earth  and  good  will  to  men  ’ and 
above  all  ‘glory  to  God  in  the  highest.’  ” This  tribute  to  this  eminent  divine 
is  endorsed  by  every  citizen  of  Natchez  who  feels  a just  pride  in  this  noble  man 
of  God,  who,  though  standing  at  the  head  of  the  Presbyterian  Church,  has  yet 
been  comforter  and  counsellor  to  Jew,  Catholic  and  Protestant  alike,  ministering 
wherever  he  could  solace  and  comfort,  ever  faithful,  through  pestilence  and 
trouble,  to  perform  the  mission  received  from  his  Master.  This  pastorate  in- 
cludes so  much  of  the  history  of  the  church  that  this  eulogy  occupies  a fitting 
place  in  this  sketch  of  the  church.  Dr.  Stratton  resigned  his  pastorate  only 
when  the  feebleness  of  age  made  his  work  too  much  of  an  effort  for  his  bodily 
strength  to  sustain.  Dr.  Stratton  is  a native  of  New  Jersey  and  a graduate  of 
Princeton  Theological  Seminary.  At  all  times  a profound  thinker  and  scholar, 
and  having  a literary  turn  of  mind,  he  has  contributed  largely  to  the  religious  and 
secular  press  of  the  country,  and  is  considered  one  of  the  most  able  pulpit  orators 
in  the  Southern  General  Assembly.  Dr.  Stratton  was  assisted  at  one  time  in 
his  pastorate  by  Rev.  G.  W.  Patterson,  as  co-pastor,  but  this  connection  was 
severed  by  Mr.  Patterson’s  accepting  a call  to  Murfreesboro,  Tenn. 

Rev.  W.  H.  Neel,  of  South  Carolina,  now  occupies  the  pulpit,  an  dseems  in 
every  way  worthy  to  follow  in  the  footsteps  of  his  illustrious  predecessors,  who 
have  all  been  men  prominent  in  the  Church  and  its  work. 

The  eldership  of  this  church  has  embraced  in  its  rolls  such  names  as  For- 
man, Henderson,  McCrery,  Postleth waite,  Pearce,  Beaumont,  Patterson,  Spen- 
cer, Newman,  Harper,  Ker,  Baker,  Carradine,  Pollock,  Metcalfe  and  DeCand — 
all  of  them  men  of  distinguished  uprightness  and  ability,  whose  mantles  have 
fallen  upon  the  children  of  some  of  them,  who  are  now  occupying  the  same 
exalted  position  as  that  held  by  their  fathers. 

To  understand  what  a power  this  church  has  been  in  the  past,  it  is  but 
necessary  to  refer  to  the  fact  that,  previous  to  the  war,  its  donations  to  the  sev- 
eral yearly  subscriptions  given  by  the  Church,  stood  second  on  the  list  in  the 
United  States,  exceeded  only  by  one  of  the  churches  in  Brooklyn. 

The  present  structure  has  just  been  renovated  and  put  in  thorough  repair, 
and  stands,  as  it  has  always  done,  a noble  monument  to  our  city  of  the  work  and 
faithful  efforts  of  pastor  and  congregation  to  keep  alive  in  the  hearts  of  the 
people  the  blessed  truths  of  Christianity.  The  present  roll  of  membership  is  431. 

E.  Hibernia  Trabue. 

THE  1VIETHODIST  CHURCH- 

The  introduction  of  Methodism  in  Natchez  Occurred  in  1798,  the  same  year 
in  which  United  States  authority  was  established  here.  Tobias  Gibson,  a South 
Carolinian,  was  the  first  minister,  and  Natchez  was  one  of  a large  circuit  of 
appointments  which  it  became  his  duty  to  fill.  He  traveled  on  horseback  or 
on  foot,  and  endured  all  the  hardships  incident  to  a new  country,  and  succeeded 
in  establishing  in  a few  years  so  many  congregations  that  assistance  was  required 
in  the  work.  This  was  furnished  by  volunteers  from  the  armj^  of  willing  workers 
educated  in  the  iaith,  and  the  results  have  been  satisfactory  in  the  extreme. 
The  system  of  changing  ministers  and  the  many  excellent  men  who  have 
been  stationed  here  in  consequence,  render  it  impossible  to  go  into  details  in  this 
work,  but  that  the  church  has  kept  apace  with  others  in  the  matter  of  successful 


82 


THE  MEMENTO 


Cedar  Grove. 


OLD  AND  NE  W NA  TCHEZ. 


33 


work  is  evident  in  the  splendid  structure  occupied  by  a larg^  congregation,  on 
the  corner  of  Jefferson  and  Union  streets,  Wesley  Chapel,  a less  pretentious,  but 
not  less  zealous,  church  for  the  benefit  of  the  factory  operatives  and  citizens  of 
the  northern  portion  of  this  city,  and  a commodious  brick  structure  on  Pine 
street,  occupied  by  the  colored  Methodists.  The  membership  of  these  churches 
is  composed  of  some  of  our  best  people,  both  white  and  black,  and  all  visitors 
are  cordially  welcomed. 

Rev.  W.  B.  Lewis,  pastor  Jefferson  Street  Methodist  Church,  1896. 

Rev.  M.  M.  Black,  pastor  Wesley  Chapel,  1896. 


WAL ill  STREET  BAPTIST  CHURCH- 

The  Wall  Street  Baptist  Church  is  situated  on  the  corner  of  State  and  Wall 
streets.  This  organization  in  Natchez  is  a half  century  old,  the  church  being 
organized  on  the  the  nth  of  January,  1837.  Rev.  Ashley  Vaughan,  a clergy- 
man from  one  of  the  Northern  States,  who  came  South  in  search  of  health,  was 
its  first  pastor.  Its  commodious  church  house  was  erected  in  1851,  and 
enlarged  in  1857  to  give  seating  capacity  to  the  growing  congregation.  This 
church  has  at  present  about  200  members,  and  is  in  a growing  and  encour- 
aging condition.  Within  the  last  two  years  the  house  of  worship  has  been 
beautified  and  furnished  with  modern  appointments  to  make  it  attractive 
and  to  inspire  devotion.  Neither  pains  nor  means  have  been  spared  by  the 
congregation  to  put  it  in  a condition  to  be  at  once  abreast  with  the  present 
demands  of  the  church-going  public  and  a Sabbath  home  where  the  humble 
mav  feel  easy  and  the  stranger  find  a welcome.  Though  the  recent  improve- 
ments have  cost  about  $2,500,  the  organization  is  out  of  debt,  and  the  member- 
ship united  for  aggressive  work  in  our  growing  city.  The  church  has  a live 
Sunday-School,  with  150  scholars  enrolled. 

Rev.  A.  B.  MacCurdy,  pastor,  January,  1896. 


CEDAR  GROVE. 

RESIDENCE  OF  NATHANIEL  HARRISON,  BUILT  IN  183O. 

Nathaniel  Harrison  was  born  October  13,  1776,  on  the  Pee  Dee  River, 
South  Carolina. 

Letitia  Gibson  was  born  February  3,  1784,  in  Adams  County,  Mississippi. 
They  were  married  in  the  town  of  Washington,  Mississippi,  Thursday,  Septem- 
ber 11,  1800;  lived  awhile  on  Pine  Ridge,  removed  to  Natchez,  and  died  at 
Cedar  Grove,  full  of  years.  Letitia  Gibson’s  father,  Reuben  Gibson,  came 
from  South  Carolina  in  1765,  was  one  of  six  to  build  the  first  Methodist  church 
in  Natchez.  • 

Nathaniel  Harrison,  civil  engineer,  came  to  Natchez  to  look  after  lands 
and  survey  in  1798.  He  was  twenty-two  years  old. 

Tobias  Gibson,  a South  Carolinian,  was  the  first  Methodist  minister  sent 
to  Natchez  in  1798.  Died  in  1804. 


84 


THE  MEMENTO 


HOT  SPRIHGS. 

A visitor’s  impression  of  the  great  valley  of  vapors — 

HE  SPEAKS  NICELY  OF  US. 


[From  the  Tirnes-Democrat , Sunday,  March  22,  1896.] 

Hot  Springs  has  a resident  population  of  16,000;  visitors  during  the  year, 
50,000;  500  hotels,  boarding  houses,  and  houses  with  furnished  rooms;  90 
doctors,  22  drug  stores,  21  churches,  12  schools.  The  leading  hotels,  Arling- 
ton, Park,  Eastman,  and  Avenue,  have  fine  bands  of  music,  free  to  all. 

There  are  over  5,000  guests  now  in  the  city.  The  charming  walks  and 
drives — the  one  over  the  mountain  is  truly  appreciated.  The  carriage,  horse- 
back, “bike”  and  burro  ride,  and  pedestrians,  make  a pretty  sight  of  evenings. 
So  picturesque. 

The  United  States  government  has  accomplished  much  by  improving  the 
reservation  property,  and  by  erecting  army  and  navy  hospitals,  public  baths  for 
the  poor,  etc. 

Happy  Hollow,  one  of  the  pleasant  surroundings,  is  visited  by  hundreds, 
many  of  whom  have  their  photographs  taken,  some  sitting  in  the  old-time 
coach,  held  up  in  its  day  by  the  robber  Jesse  James. 

For  the  past  month  many  enjoyable  meetings  have  been  had,  not  soon  to 
be  forgotten,  in  the  parlors  of  St.  Joseph’s  Infirmary — music,  songs,  recitations 
and  other  agreeable  amusements;  the  educated  bear  (Mr.  M. ) and  his  experi- 
enced trainer  (Mr.  W. ) were  inimitable,  long  to  be  remembered.  Each  comic 
•act  and  speech  brought  forth  hearty  laughs  and  joyous  tears. 

Those  present  were:  Mrs.  Willis  and  niece,  Miss  Edna  Clark.  Corder, 

Mo.;  Mrs.  Geo.  E.  Warner  and  Miss  Susie  Griffin,  New  Orleans;  Mrs.  Amalie 
Hollie,  Forest  Park,  St.  Louis;  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Wallace,  Decatur,  111.;  Mrs.  M. 
A.  Mack  and  daughter,  Miss  Belle,  St.  Louis;  Mrs.  A.  B.  Dempsey,  Sedalia, 
Mo.;  Mr.  and  Mrs.  S.  F.  Power,  Natchez,  Miss.;  Dr.  Gaston  A.  Herbert, 
New  Orleans;  Mrs.  Mary  A.  Fletcher,  Marshall,  Mo.;  Miss  Fannie  Fletcher, 
Sedalia,  Mo.;  Mrs.  James  Gilmore,  Danville,  111.;  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Louis  Seizer, 
Sioux  City,  Iowa;  Mr.  H.  I.  Maxwell  and  mother,  McPherson,  Kansas. 

St.  Joseph’s  Infirmary,  under  the  management  of  the  Sisters  of  Mercy,  is  a 
lovely  home  and  well  patronized. 


[Daily  Sentinel,  Hot  Springs,  Ark.,  April,  1896.] 


Happy  Hollow,  with  its  many  attractions,  has  its  collection  of  native  wild 
animals  and  birds;  burlesque  theaters  and  music  rooms,  all  free.  The  original, 
in  his  line,  photographer,  Mr.  McLeod.  “Oh,  those  pictures!”  groups  of 
ladies  and  gentlemen,  some  mounted  on  donkeys,  oxen,  or  horses,  taken  with 
a background  of  live  deer,  wolves,  foxes,  raccoons,  and  American  eagles. 

These  mementoes  of  friends  and  the  place  will  ever  be  treasured  by  those 
who  have  been  so  taken;  who  met  by  chance,  became  fast  friends,  with  pleas- 
ant memories  of  Hot  Springs;  who  part  with  fond  hope.  May  we  meet  again. 

Major. 


[For  the  Natchez  Daily  Democrat.\ 


I had  the  pleasure  of  living  and  partaking  of  the  comforts,  etc.,  of  St. 
Joseph’s  Infirmary,  Hot  Springs,  over  three  months;  my  wife  and  sister  and  her 
companion  over  seven  months.  We  have  3feven  relatives  there  now,  and  all 
join  in  praise  of  this  perfect  home,  under  the  management  of  the  kind  and 
attentive  Sisters  of  Mercy.  Modern  improvements,  heated  by  steam,  gas- 
lighted,  elevators,  good  table,  reasonable  rates.  I would  respectfully  say, 
should  those  who  visit  the  lovely  retreat  and  partake  of  the  Hot  Springs  baths 
and  water  (on  the  first  floor)  not  be  fully  cured  of  rheumatism,  etc.,  they 
will  still  thank  the  day  they  went  there  for  relief.  Major. 


OLD  AND  NE W NA  TCHEZ. 


85 


JEFFERSON  COULiEGE. 

This  venerable  institution  of  learning,  situated  in  the  pretty  and  healthy 
village  of  Washington,  six  miles  northeast  of  Natchez,  is  unquestionably  the 
oldest  in  the  Southwest.  Chartered  in  1802,  it  commenced  active  operations  in 
1811,  while  Mississippi  was  yet  a Territory,  and  was  presided  over  in  its  earliest 
years  by  William  C.  C.  Claiborne,  then  Territorial  Governor.  The  prospects 
of  the  young  institution  were  anything  but  encouraging.  The  energy,  devotion 
and  enthusiasm  of  its  friends,  however,  soon  placed  it  upon  the  road  to  pros- 
perity, down  which  it  smoothly  glided,  until  checked  by  the  outbreak  of  the  late 
civil  war.  From  this  calamity  it  emerged,  as  did  almost  every  other  Southern 
institution,  severely  crippled,  when  the  Trustees,  very  fortunately,  succeeded  in 
securing  the  services  of  Prof.  Joseph  S.  Raymond,  August  10,  1872,  its  present 
admirable  pilot,  who,  by  his  devotiou  to  the  task,  has  restored  the  grand  old 
school,  the  Alma  Mater  of  some  of  Mississippi’s  most  brilliant  men,  to  its  ante- 
bellum glory.  Jefferson  College  is  delightfully  domiciled,  in  handsome  and  ex- 
tensive buildings,  in  the  midst  of  a delightful  park  of  eighty  acres.  It  opens 
this  term  with  a faculty  including  graduates  of  the  first  Universities  in  the 
land,  with  the  well-read  and  excellent  educator,  Prof.  J.  S.  Raymond,  of  Wash- 
ington and  Ree  at  its  head.  The  College  has  a primary  and  high  school  de- 
partment, which  include  in  their  courses  of  study,  the  English  branches,  rudi- 
mentary and  higher  mathematics,  the  classics,  &c.  The  institution  is  now  en- 
joying a large  patronage  from  Louisiana  and  Mississippi.  This  is  one  of  the 
most  ably  conducted  and  thorough  schools  in  the  Southwest,  and  the  expense 
to  pupils  is  reduced  to  the  very  lowest  rate — but  $130  fora  school  }^ear  of  ten 
months,  including  board,  lodging,  lights,  fuel — everything  in  fact,  but  clothes. 

Gen.  Wm.  T.  Martin,  President  of  the  Board  of  Trustees  of  Jefferson  Col- 
lege, is  a native  of  Kentucky,  whence  he  removed  to  Tennessee,  with  his  eminent 
father,  Hon.  J.  H.  Martin ; then  to  Vicksburg,  in  this  State,  where  his  brilliant 
sire  achieved  so  many  legal  triumphs,  and  finally  to  Natchez,  in  which  place 
he  commenced  his  career  as  a school-teacher,  at  the  age  of  twenty-one.  After 
this  service  of  much  usefulness  he  entered  at  the  bar,  where  for  years  he  was 
among  the  leaders  of  the  State  and  famous  as  a pleader  and  reasoner  as  well  as 
for  the  wide  range  of  his  legal  information.  During  the  war  he  was  a valuable 
and  honorable  soldier  of  the  Confederacy,  and  at  its  conclusion  he  returned  to 
the  bar,  to  which,  however,  he  has  paid  but  partial  attention  since  1870,  when, 
having  become  impressed  with  the  great  future  possible  for  Natchez,  could  she 
be  attached  to  one  string  of  the  web  of  railway  being  stretched  to  every  corner 
of  the  land,  he  entered  with  all  his  heart  and  soul  into  the  Natchez,  Jackson  & 
Columbus  Railway  scheme,  and  as  I have  observed  elsewhere,  the  accomplish- 
ment of  that  project  is  almost  entirely  due  to  his  genius  and  splendid  efforts. 


86 


7 HE  MEMENTO 


Queries’  Home. 


OLD  AND  NEW  NATCHEZ. 


7 


QUEGLaES’  HOME. 

John  B.  Quegles,  a native  of  Natchez,  one  of  our  most  valued,  cultured  and 
successful  business  citizens,  and  Margaret  McGraw,  also  a native  of  Natchez, 
and  one  of  the  lovliest  of  women,  were  married  September  7,  1843,  by  the 
Rt.  Rev.  Bishop  Chance  (first  Bishop  of  Mississippi). 

Six  children  were  born  of  this  happy  union — two  are  living.  Miss  Mary  S. 
Quegles  married  Paul  A.  Botto,  one  of  the  founders  of  ‘ ‘ The  Natchez  Democrat,  ’ ’ 
its  able  and  popular  editor,  a true  friend  and  as  faithful  a soldier  as  could  be 
found  in  Harris’  Brigade  of  Mississippians,  for  four  years.  Miss  Fannie  M. 
Quegles  married  Louis  Botto,  one  of  the  leading  and  reliable  business  men  of 
our  city,  president  of  the  Cotton  Compress  for  years,  vice  president  of  the 
Rosalie  Cotton  Mills,  vice  president  of  the  First  Bank  of  Natchez — a solid  and 
successful  institution.  Paul  A.  Botto,  the  scholar,  editor,  soldier  and  noble 
friend,  died  1879. 


BRITTON  St  roontz’S  BANK, 

For  half  a century,  through  seasons  of  bankruptcy,  financial  disaster  and 
panic,  and  in  the  very  midst  of  the  scene  of  a civil  war  the  magnitude  of  which 
neither  antiquity  nor  modern  times  has  ever  witnessed,  has  faced  each  assault, 
and,  now  in  the  sunshine  of  financial  ease,  displays  no  scars  to  mark  the  hazards 
of  the  past.  Uncrippled  after  the  civil  war,  this  house  was  enabled  to  furnish 
crutches  to  the  financially  crippled ; and  many  a planter,  who  returned  from 
the  field  to  find  his  broad  acres  left,  but  all  means  of  utilizing  them  gone,  bears 
in  his  most  vivid  recollection  grateful  memories  of  the  hands  which  assisted 
him  to  independence  again.  Messrs.  A.  C.  Britton  and  Geo.  W.  Koontz,  the 
members  of  this  firm,  are  identified  with,  and  most  valuable  aids  of,  every  en- 
terprise to  build  up  and  assist  to  prosperity  this  bountifully-endowed  section 
of  the  country.  Their  means  have  done  much  in  its  development,  and  are 
constantly  employed  in  the  assistance  of  honorable  thrift,  industry  and  enter- 
prise. They  do  an  essentially  legitimate  banking  business,  deal  in  foreign 
and  domestic  exchange,  and  their  correspondence  includes  many  of  the  most 
reputable  and  substantial  financial  concerns  in  the  United  States. 


88 


THE  MEMENTO 


THE  NATCHEZ  FENClBliES. 

THIS  MILITARY  COMPANY  WAS  ORGANIZED  APRIL  21,  1 824. 

John  A.  Quitman,  who  subsequently  became  Chancellor,  Governor  of  the 
State,  Representative  in  Congress,  and  a Major-General  in  the  Army  of  the 
United  States,  was  its  first  captain.  John  I.  Guion,  who  afterwards  became; 
one  of  the  most  distinguished  lawyers  of  the  State,  achieved  high  honors  on 
the  Bench,  served  as  Representative  and  Senator  in  the  Legislature,  and  later 
as  Governor  of  Mississippi,  was  chosen  as  first  lieutenant,  and  succeeded  Quit- 
man  as  captain.  Felix  Huston  (who  became  a general  in  the  war  with  Mex- 
ico for  Texan  independence)  was  chosen  third  captain,  and  was  followed  by 
Thomas  Munce,  Thos.  Clay  and  other  prominent  citizens  of  the  long  ago. 

Duncan  S.  Walker,  a very  prominent  lawyer,  the  elder  brother  of  Hon. 
Robert  J.  Walker,  distinguished  as  a United  States  Senator,  Secretary  of 
the  Treasury,  and  finally  Governor  of  Kansas  under  President  Buchanan, 
was  selected  as  second  lieutenant,  and  Adam  L.  Bingaman,  one  of  the  most 
eloquent  and  cultivated  men  of  his  time,  and  who  competed  with  Edward 
Everett  for  the  first  honor  at  Harvard,  was  chosen  third  lieutenant.  Among  the 
names  of  the  “high  privates’’  we  find  those  of  several  who  afterwards  achieved 
distinction,  as  merchants,  lawyers,  and  planters,  among  whom  we  note  George 
S.  Guion,  prominent  as  lawyer,  planter  and  legislator  in  Louisiana;  J.  J. 
Hughes,  distinguished  as  a merchant  and  banker  in  Yazoo  City,  and  finally  as 
a leading  cotton  factor  in  New  Orleans;  the  Hon.  William  Vannerson,  one  of 
the  most  distinguished  law)^ers  in  Mississippi;  William  Harris,  a prominent 
planter  of  Adams  county,  and  father  of  the  Hon.  J.  W.  M.  and  Gen.  N.  H. 
Harris,  of  this  city,  with  others  more  or  less  distinguished  in  the  various  walks 
of  life.  These  are  all  dead,  and  we  do  not  recall  the  name  of  a single  survivor 
of  that  original  band  of  brothers. 

The  original  minute  book,  from  1824  to  1833,  is  in  the  possession  of  one  of 
our  citizens.  Other  records,  from  that  time  to  the  outbreak  of  the  Civil  War, 
were  recently  destroyed  by  fire.  In  1831  the  Company  was  chartered  by  the 
Legislature  of  the  State.  This  charter  has  never  been  forfeited.  About  fifteen 
years  ago  Gov.  Robt.  Lowrey  recognized  it.  To-day,  1896,  the  organization 
has  only  a nominal  existence. 

The  Fencibles  have  maintained  their  organization  ever  since  1824,  and 
were  immensely  disgusted  in  1846  because  they  did  not  get  a place  in  the  First 
regiment,  which  went  to  Mexico  under  the  command  of  Col.  Jefferson  Davis. 
They  were,  however,  represented  in  the  Mexican  war,  but  not  as  a company. 

It  was  a conspicuous  factor  in  the  war  between  the  States,  having  been  in 
twenty-three  battles.  Under  the  command  of  Capt.  Edward  Blackburn,  as 
gallant  a soldier  as  ever  wore  a sword,  the  company  was  mustered  into  service 
on  the  24th  of  April,  1861,  and  was  the  first  infantry  company  to  leave 
Natchez,  and  for  four  years  made  as  bright  a record  as  any  body  of  soldiers 
that  ever  went  into  battle.  Its  service  was  in  the  Army  of  Northern 
Virginia,  in  the  12th  Mississippi  regiment,  Col  Richard  Griffith,  serving 
the  first  year  in  Gen.  Rhodes’  Alabama  Brigade.  After  this  it  was  brigaded 
with  three  other  Mississippi  regiments,  namely,  the  16th,  19th  and  48th,  and 
was  under  the  following  brigade  commanders:  W.  S.  Fetherson,  Carnot  Posey 
and  Nathaniel  H.  Flarris.  The  company  commanders  during  the  four  years  of 
war,  were  in  the  following  order:  E.  Blackburn,  T.  A.  Wilson  and  T.  Q.  Munce. 
The  company’s  last  fight  was  on  the  3d  of  April,  1865,  at  the  fall  of  Petersburg, 
where,  in  Ft.  Gregg,  many  of  the  galiant  boys  gave  up  their  valued  lives  in  a 
halo  of  glory. 

During  the  war,  all  told,  there  were  one  hundred  and  forty-four  names 
upon  the  roll.  Of  this  number  about  twenty  are  known  to  be  living. 


OLD  AND  NEW  NATCHEZ. 


89. 


When  Gen.  Lafayette  visited  Natchez,  in  1826,  the  Fencibles  were  his 
special  escort,  also  when  one  of  Napoleon’s  favorite  officers  Count  Bertrand, 
came  to  Natchez  as  the  guest  of  Charles  Lacoste,  Emile  Profilet,  Doctor 
Chappela,  Maj.  Henry  Chotard  and  others.  The  Fencibles  as  escort,  in  their 
beautiful  French  blue  uniforms,  trimmed  with  silver  lace,  silver  marble  buttons, 
were  the  pride  of  their  fellow-citizens  and  the  admiration  of  the  ladies. 

Maj.  Henry  Chotard  was  an  aid-de-camp  of  Gen.  Andrew  Jackson  at  the 
battle  of  New  Orleans.  He  married  the  daughter  of  Don  Stephen  Minor,  and 
resided  at  lovely  “ Summerset 

The  original  Fencibles  had  a banner  song,  written,  if  we  are  not  mistaken, 
by  Francis  Baker,  a native  of  New  Jersey,  who  was  subsequently  murdered  by  a 
son  of  Governor  Desha,  of  Kentucky,  while  traveling  through  that  State  on  his- 
way  to  New  Jersey,  where  it  was  alleged  he  was  going  to  consummate  a matri- 
monial engagement.  The  following  are  the  words  of  the  song: 

FE^lClBLiES’  BANNER  SONG. 

[Air  : “The  Girl  I Teft  Behind  Me.’’] 

Our  maiden  banner  courts  the  wind, 

Its  stars  are  beaming  o’er  us  ; 

Each  radiant  fold,  now  unconfined, 

Is  floating  free  before  us. 

It  bears  a motto,  proud  and  high, 

For  those  who  dare  defy  us, 

And  loud  shall  peal  our  slogan  cry 
Whene’er  they  come  to  “ try  us.” 

The  hallowed  day  that  Freedom  gave 
To  cheer  the  gloom  that  bound  us, 

And  shone  in  beauty  o’er  the  brave, 

Still  brightly  beams  around  us  ; 

The  day  that  our  forefathers  won 
Shall  long  be  greeted  by  us, 

And  loudly  through  our  ranks  shall  run 
The  gallant  war  cry — “ Try  us!” 

Now  fill  the  wine  cup  to  the  brim, 

Fill,  fill  the  ruby  treasure  ; 

Pour  one  libation  forth  to  Him, 

Nor  stint  the  burning  measure  ; 

And  o’er  the  board  or  in  the  field 
His  spirit  shall  be  nigh  us — 

The  patriot’s  hope,  the  soldier’s  shield — 

Whene’er  they  come  to  “ try  us.” 

Then  give  our  banner  to  the  wind  ; 

Its  stars  are  beaming  o’er  us; 

Its  maiden  folds,  now  unconfined, 

Are  floating  free  before  us. 

It  bears  a motto,  proud  and  high, 

For  those  who  dare  defy  us, 

And  loud  shall  peal  our  slogan  cry 
Whene’er  they  come  to  try  us. 

In  the  late  unhappy  war,  the  Fencibles,  on  many  a bloody  field,  lived  up 
to  the  spirit  of  their  “ Banner  Song,”  and,  with  a courage  and  devotion  worthy 
of  their  cause,  crimsoned  the  soil  of  Virginia  with  the  rich  libation  of  their 
blood. 


90 


THE  MEMENTO 


THE  ADAJVIS  UIGHT  guard. 

This  volunteer  company  was  organized  in  the  year  1836  by  some  of  the 
most  active  and  patriotic  citizens  of  Natchez  and  Adams  county,  and  was 
commanded  from  its  organization  by  Robert  Clark,  an  efficient  drill-master  and 
soldier.  Through  many  vicissitudes,  the  company  preserved  an  unbroken 
organization  until  the  breaking  out  of  the  Civil  War,  when  its  ranks  were 
recruited  to  the  complement  of  two  companies,  forming  a battalion  called  the 
Adams  Light  Guard  Battalion,  under  the  command  of  Capt.  Robert  Clark. 

Capt.  Samuel  E-  Baker  was  commandant  of  one  company,  and  Lieut. 
Douglas  Walworth  of  the  other,  when  the  battalion  volunteered  for  field  service 
under  the  call  of  the  Confederacy  for  twelve-month  volunteers. 

After  due  preparation,  the  battalion  left  Natchez  in  May,  1861,  for  Cor- 
inth, Miss.,  the  rendezvous  of  Mississippi  troops,  under  the  following  officers: 

Capt.  Robert  Clark,  Commandant. 

First  Company — S.  E.  Baker,  Captain;  E.  C.  Council,  First  Lieutenant; 
E.  L.  Hopkins,  Second  Lieutenant;  D.  W.  Ducie,  Third  Lieutenant. 

Second  Company — Douglas  Walworth,  First  Lieutenant,  Commandant; 
E.  W.  Lindsay,  Second  Lieutenant;  J.  N.  Ault,  Third  Lieutenant. 

At  Corinth  the  battalion  was  absorbed  in  the  16th  Mississippi  regiment,  as 
companies  D and  I.  Capt.  Carnot  Posey  was  elected  Colonel;  Capt.  Robert 
Clark,  Lieutenant-Colonel;  Thomas  R.  Stockdale,  Major;  Lieut.  Walworth  was 
promoted  to  the  Captaincy  of  Company  I. 

In  July,  1861,  the  16th  Mississippi  Regiment  was  ordered  to  Virginia,  and 
was  attached  to  the  Army  of  Northern  Virginia,  under  the  command  of  Gen. 
Joseph  E.  Johnston,  at  Manassas. 

It  would  require  more  space  than  is  possible  to  be  granted  in  a work  like 
this  to  follow  the  course  and  relate  the  incidents  of  the  trials  and  hardships  of  the 
1 6th  Mississippi  Regiment,  or  to  give  a faint  outline  of  its  heroic  deeds,  which 
recital  would  be  a brilliant  history  of  itself.  The  record  of  this  Regiment  is 
unsurpassed,  particularly  that  of  the  two  Light  Guard  companies  which  formed 
the  center  (or  color)  companies. 

A recapitulation  of  these  companies  shows  for  Company  D:  Aggregate  of 
officers  and  privates,  128  ; killed  or  died  of  wounds,  36  ; died  of  disease,  10; 
disabled  by  wounds,  2;  total  dead  and  wounded,  48;  aggregate  of  all  losses,  76. 

Company  I:  Aggregate  of  officers  and  privates,  108;  killed  or  died  of 
wounds,  12;  died  of  disease,  3;  disabled  by  wounds,  2;  total  dead  and  wounded, 
17;  aggregate  of  nil  losses,  49. 

The  Light  Guard  was  in  the  following  engagements  : Front  Royal,  Va. ; 
Winchester,  Va.;  Cross  Keys,  Va. ; Seven  Days  Fight,  Richmond,  Va. ; Cold 
Harbor,  Va.;  Malvern  Hill,  Va.;  Second  Manassas,  Va.;  Harper’s  Ferry,  Va. ; 
Sharpsburg,  Md. ; Fredericksburg,  Va. ; Second  Fredericksburg,  Va. ; Gettys- 
burg, Pa.;  Wilderness,  Va. ; Spottsylvania  Court  House,  Va. ; Darbytown  Road, 
Va.;  Weldon  Railroad,  Va. 

During  the  long  period  of  service  of  these  companies  there  were  many 
changes  in  officers  and  line,  incident  to  death  and  promotions,  as  well  as  transfer, 
to  staff  and  other  duties,  but  it  may  safely  be  said  no  Confederate  organization 
underwent  more  active  service  during  the  war,  endured  greater  privations  and 
hardships  than  these  Light  Guard  companies  or  left  behind  them  a more  brilliant 
record  emphasizing  the  shibboleth  inscribed  on  their  banner  “Deeds,  not  Words." 

[Taken  from  the  Courier , Natchez,  Saturday,  July  19,  1862.] 

We  have  frequently  made  allusion  to  the  extraordinary  march  and  service 
of  the  Sixteenth  Mississippi  Regiment,  a portion  of  which  is  the  Adams  Light 
Guard  Battalion.  In  their  march  and  battles  in  the  Valley  of  the  Shenandoah; 
their  unprecedentedly  quick  return  to  the  eastern  portion  of  Virginia  in  time 


OLD  AND  NEW  NA  TCHEZ. 


9i 


to  act  a conspicuous  part  in  the  great  contest  that  defeated  General  McClellan’s 
grand  army;  their  untiring  devotion  and  endurance  in  the  cause  of  a common 
country ; they  have  been  marked  as  among  the  best  and  bravest  of  our  noble 
volunteers. 

It  was  a source  of  pride  and  gratification  with  us,  yesterday  morning,  to 
hear  from  Maj.  Samuel  F.  Baker,  of  the  Sixteenth  Mississippi,  who  has  taken 
part  with  his  patriotic  fellow-citizens  of  the  Adams  Eight  Guard  Battalion  in 
all  the  stirring  incidents  of  the  late  battles  on  the  Shenandoah  and  before  Rich- 
mond. He  passed  the  fiery  ordeal  unscathed,  and  now,  in  the  absence  of  the 
higher  officers,  he  is  acting  Colonel  of  the  regiment,  a trust  which  we  believe 
he  is  fully  competent  to  fill  to  its  utmost  requirements. 

Although  only  intended  as  familiar  jottings  of  the  camp,  we  can  not  refrain 
from  using  some  extracts  from  his  late  letter  to  friends  in  Natchez,  descriptive 
of  the  participation  of  the  Sixteenth  Mississippi  regiment  in  the  gigantic  strug- 
gle with  McClellan’s  Federal  forces,  on  Charles  City  Road,  eighteen  miles  from 
Richmond,  July  6,  1862. 

“We  were  in  the  fight  on  Friday  evening,  May  27th,  and  also  on  Tuesday. 
The  former  was  fought  along  the  line  from  Gaines’  Mill  on  the  right,  to  Cold 
Harbor  on  the  left;  the  latter  was  fought  at  Frazier’s  Farm.  We  had  hard  fight- 
ing to  do,  the  enemy  being  in  fine  position  and  strongly^  posted,  protected  by 
woods  and  breastworks.  On  Friday  evening  we  were  under  fire  until  about 
half  an  hour  before  sunset,  when  the  order  was  given  to  make  a charge  along 
the  line  from  right  to  left.  The  place  where  we  had  to  charge  was  one  difficult 
of  access  and  pregnant  with  danger.  We  had  first  to  descend  a ravine,  which 
ran  into  another  ravine  that  swept  around  the  base  of  quite  a high  hill  ; in  front 
of  the  hill  there  was  a ditch  about  two  feet  wide,  filled  with  water  and  mud 
waist  deep.  In  the  ravines  the  enemy  had  cut  down  all  the  trees  with  the 
branches  facing  11s,  so  that  our  progress  was  slow  and  difficult.  On  the  hill  the 
enemy  had  posted  three  regiments — the  first  lying  down  on  the  brow  of 
the  hill;  the  second  a little  farther  back,  kneeling;  and  the  third  still  to  the 
rear,  standing  up.  Our  line  was  formed,  the  North  Carolinians  on  our  left.  The 
Alabama  and  Georgia  regiments  of  our  brigade  were  separated  from  us  early  in 
the  evening.  General  Trimble  led  the  charge  At  the  word  “forward”  all 
stepped  off  promptly.  After  going  a short  distance,  we  passed  a regiment  lying 
on  the  ground  just  on  the  skirt  of  the  woods  from  which  we  were  emerging.  We 
now  came  to  an  open  field;  over  this  we  had  to  cross  before  we  could  reach  the 
ravine  and  hill  on  which  the  enemy  were  posted;  and  here  the  balls  flew  thick 
and  fast;  but  steadily  we  advanced  to  the  ravine  and  then  were  at  it.  On  its 
brink  lay  a regiment.  We  are  halted  by  its  Colonel  and  asked,  ‘ W7here  are  you 
going?’  General  Trimble  answers  that  ‘We  are  going  to  charge  the  enemy 
and  drive  them  off.’  The  Colonel  replies,  ‘You  can  not  do  it,  four  attempts 
have  been  made  by  different  regiments,  and  each  has  failed.’  The  General 
answers,  ‘ We  can  and  will  drive  them  off.  Forward,  boys,  and  give  them  the 
bayonet.’  With  one  loud  cheer,  we  descended  the  ravine,  falling  and  scram- 
bling over  the  cut  timber;  each  one  anxious  to  be  first.  We  now  come  to  the 
ravine  in  which  was  the  ditch;  into  it  we  plunge,  under  a most  murderous  fire 
of  musketry.  We  cross  it  and  commence  the  ascent  of  the  hill,  and  are  met  by 
a volley  from  the  enemy;  but  now  we  charge  up  the  hill  furiously.  Arrived  at 
the  top,  the  regiments  lying  on  the  brow  fire  upon  us,  and  so  close  are  they 
that  the  fire  from  their  guns  almost  scorches  and  blinds  us.  Now  for  the  first 
time  we  fire.  One  general  volley  rolls  along  our  whole  line,  and  with  a cheer 
the  men  rush  forward  and  charge.  It  is  more  than  the  enemy  can  stand,  they 
waver,  give  back  and  then  flee,  hotly  pursued  through  the  woods  to  their  camps; 
then  through  camps  back  of  their  artillery.  Here  they  are  met  by  the  Texas 
brigade,  who  have  broken  their  right,  and  they  are  driven  back  upon  us.  The 
slaughter  here  was  great.  Many  escaped  by  running  down  a ravine,  between 


92 


THE  MEMENTO 


Ravenna 


OLD  AND  NEW  NATCHEZ. 


93 


our  forces,  leading  into  the  swamp.  Many  were  taken  prisoners.  It  is  now 
dark  and  still  the  pursuit  continues.  The  recall  is  sounded,  our  lines  formed, 
and  we  lie  down  victors,  sleeping  on  the  field.  But  our  victory  is  mixed  with 
sorrow;  many  a noble  man  has  fallen.  Capt.  James  Brown,  who,  by  my  request 
was  acting  Lieutenant-Colonel,  was  killed  early  in  the  engagement,  gallantly 
leading  the  left  wing  of  the  regiment. 

“ E.  Steele  Irvine  acted  most  bravely.  The  Color-Sergeant  was  shot  down 
as  we  neared  the  top  of  the  hill.  Irvine  snatched  the  colors  from  the  ground, 
and  waving  them  proudly  aloft,  rushed  to  the  front;  the  flag  was  pierced  with 
eleven  bullets. 

‘ ‘ In  this  charge  we  captured  three  batteries,  over  2,000  stands  of  arms,  large 
supplies  of  company  stores  and  about  five  hundred  prisoners.  Next  day  we 
continued  our  advance,  the  enemy  flying  before  us. 

“It  would  be  impossible  to  say  how  much  the  enemy  have  lost  in  the  past 
week.  We  have  captured  camp  after  camp  and  found  them  filled  with  destroyed 
property  of  every  kind.  The  amount  of  ammunition  destroyed  is  immense  ; 
also,  that  of  wagons.  They  tried  to  burn  most  of  them,  but  in  many  cases  failed. 

“The  fight  on  Tuesday  evening  was  terrific,  and  we  gained  nothing.  The 
enemy  held  their  position  when  the  fight  ended.  It  was  continued  until  ten 
o’clock  at  night.  We  suffered  terribly.  We  captured  three  batteries,  but  were 
unable  to  hold  them.  My  regiment  was  under  a fire  of  shells,  but  did  not  fire 
a gun.  During  the  hottest  of  the  fight  we  were  “ double-quicked”  from  the 
extreme  left  to  right  under  a terrible  fire  of  round  shot  and  shell.  Here  we 
acted  as  a support  and  kept  the  enemy  in  check.  It  was  a trying  position,  for 
three  batteries  were  playing  upon  us  and  our  artillery  had  been  completely 
disabled.  Next  morning,  before  daylight,  the  enemy  moved  off.  A heavy 
rain  fell  during  the  morning,  and  we  were  unable  to  follow.  The  next  day  we 
started  in  pursuit,  and  are  now  up  with  them.  They  have  taken  refuge  under  their 
gunboats.  ’ ’ 

The  flag  was  presented  to  Capt.  Sam’l  Baker  after  the  battle,  and  was  sent 
to  Natchez  by  a friend,  who  retained  it  until  a few  years  ago,  when  it  was  given 
into  the  keeping  of  Capt.  T.  Otis  Baker,  of  the  Adams  Light  Infantry.  Capt. 
Sam’l  Baker’s  company  was  company  D,  Adams  Light  Guards,  of  the  Sixteenth 
Mississippi.  Capt.  Sam’l  Baker  became  Colonel  of  this  regiment,  and  was  killed  at 
the  battle  of  Spottsylvania  Court  House,  Va.,  May  12,  1864.  Gen.  Nat.  Harris, 
a.  native  of  Natchez,  had  the  Sixteenth  Mississippi  under  his  command  until 
the  close  of  the  war. 

“HER  BRIGHT  SJVULiE  HRGHTS  JVIE  STIIiLi.” 

[The  following  is  an  extract  from  a recent  letter  written  by  the  gallant  Confederate,  Gen.  Nat.  H. 
Harris,  of  Mississippi,  the  hero  of  Fort  Gregg,  to  his  sister,  Mrs.  S.  F.  Power,  of  Natchez.] 

[The  Times  Democrat , New  Orleans,  April  21,  1895.] 

San  Francisco,  Cal. 

Several  days  ago  I casually  strolled  into  one  of  the  largest  and  most  popu- 
lar music  stores  in  this  city.  In  the  rear  part  a gentleman  was  seated  at  a 
piano,  accompanying  another  gentleman,  who  was  playing  upon  a flute.  The  air 
they  were  playing  at  once  arrested  my  attention  by  the  familiar  notes,  and  with 
this  recognition  of  the  air  a memory  of  long  ago  came  back  to  me  most  vividly; 
a memory  of  the  camp  and  field;  a memory  of  brave  and  gallant  men;  a memory 
of  friends,  many  of  whom  now  rest  quietly  beneath  the  sod;  a memory  of  noble 
deeds,  and  a memory  of  a most  gigantic  and  heroic  struggle.  Particularly, 
it  recalled  to  mind  a pleasant  hour  passed  in  close  comradeship  with  brave 
spirits — an  hour  of  social  pleasures — and  remembered  as  one  of  the  hours 
of  enjoyment  that  we  occasionally  had  amidst  so  much  of  battle,  shot,  shell  and 
■death. 


94 


THE  MEMENTO 


The  scene  was  in  the  old  city  of  Fredericksburg,  by  the  river  Rappahan- 
nock. The  time,  December,  1862,  shortly  after  the  bloody  repulse  of  Burnside. 
Several  officers,  young  in  years,  had  gathered  in  one  of  the  abandoned  man- 
sions, then  occupied  as  the  quarters  of  the  officers  of  one  of  Barksdale’s  Mis- 
sissippi regiments,  having  as  visitors  two  officers  from  the  Nineteenth  Missis- 
sippi regiment,  which  was  encamped  on  the  hills  in  the  rear  of  the  city.  They 
were  gathered  about  a festive  board.  Though  there  was  an  absence  of  rich 
viands  and  costly  plate,  yet  there  was  a hearty  welcome,  and  when  the  fare  was 
spread  it  was  enjoyed  with  a soldier’s  appetite.  After  the  feast  came  music  and 
song,  and  one  of  the  gallant  young  officers,  taking  a guitar  from  its  place, 
sang  with  a high  voice  and  great  feeling,  the  then  familiar  air,  1 ‘ Her  Bright 
Smile  Haunts  Me  Still.”  Dear  Hebe  Govan,  T can  almost  now  hear  the  tones 
of  your  voice  as  you  so  sweetly  sang  with  your  rich  tenor  voice  that  day  to 
the  guitar  accompaniment,  and  see  the  genial  and  handsome  faces  of  yourself, 
Dr.  Bob  Peel  and  Jimmy  Crump — a day  of  long  ago,  a recollection  of  the  good 
and  true,  recalled  after  the  lapse  of  a third  of  a century  in  a far-away  land  by 
the  air  of  the  old  war-time  song,  “ Her  Bright  Smile  Haunts  Me  Still.” 

N.  H.  H. 

A LkARGE  SALiARY. 

A friend  and  reader  of  the  Banner  sends  us  the  following: 

‘‘The  largest  salary  in  the  world,  $ 60,000  a year,  is  paid  to  John  Hays 
Hammond,  of  California  (consulting  engineer)  by  the  house  of  Barnato  Broth- 
ers, gold  miners,  Johannesburg,  South  Africa.”— Extract  from  the  San  Fran- 
cisco Chronicle , April  8,  1894. 

“ Mr.  Hammond’s  salary  was  raised  to  $100,000  a year.” — Extract  from  a 
pamphlet  December,  1896,  ‘‘Dr.  Jamison  and  Raiders,”  by  Richard  Harding 
Davis,  Fellow  Royal  Geographical  Society. 

Mr.  Hammond  is  a nephew  of  the  lamented  Col.  Jack  Hays,  of  Texas, 
and  Gen.  Harry  Hays,  of  Louisiana.  He  married  Miss  Natalie,  youngest 
daughter  of  the  late  Judge  J.  W.  M.  Harris,  of  Vicksburg,  and  niece  of  Mrs. 
Geo.  F Warner,  of  St.  Charles  avenue,  New  Orleans,  and  Gen.  Nat.  H. 
Harris,  and  Capt.  Wm.  M.  Harris,  of  Mississippi. 

The  above  will  be  read  with  interest  by  the  friends  and  relatives  of  Gen- 
eral Harris. 


STEAMERS  ON  THE  MISSISSIPPI  RIVER. 

‘‘ye  OLDEN  TIMES” — NEW  ORLEANS,  NATCHEZ  AND  VICKSBURG 

PACKETS. 

They  were  truly  floating  palaces — grand  and  richly  furnished — on  which 
it  was  a pleasure  to  travel.  They  cost  from  $45,000  to  $235,000  each.  The  best 
known  among  them  were  : Magnolia,  Ambassador,  Princess  (five  boats  built  of 
this  name),  Magenta,  Quitman,  Katie,  J.  M.  White,  Eclipse,  Pargoud,  Charmer, 
Vicksburg,  Belle  Lee,  Robert  E.  Lee,  Natchez  (seven  boats  of  this  name 
were  built),  Fashion,  Captain  Pratt. 

The  most  noted  and  best-remembered  captains  were  : St.  Clair,  Thomasson, 
Chas.  I.  Brenham,  John  W.  Cannon,  Richard  Holmes,  Wm.  Richardson,  Frank 
Hicks,  Wm.  Campbell,  Abram  Auter,  Trueman  C.  Holmes,  Janies  M.  White, 
John  Tobin,  W.  C.  Wilson,  John  Smoker,  Thos.  P.  Leathers. 


Llangollen — Residence  of  T.  O.  Baker. 


OLD  AND  NFAL  NATCHEZ. 


95 


96 


THE  MEMENTO 


SCRAPS  OF  NATCHEZ  HISTORY. 

MEN  WHO  MADE  HISTORY  IN  THE  SOUTHWEST  LONG  AGO. 

The  men  who  lived  and  the  things  they  did  a hundred  years  ago  on  this 
soil,  where  our  extant  population  are  battling  with  their  struggles  and  trials, 
have  mostly  been  buried  in  oblivion,  or  but  dimly  appear  in  legendary  annals. 
But  there  are  some  among  us  who  feel  that  this  is  a calamity,  if  not  a fault, 
and  who  love  to  be  reminded  of  those  patriarchal  forms  who  presided  over  the 
nascency  of  our  State,  and  planted  here  in  the  “ Natchez  District”  the  germs  of 
the  Commonwealth  of  Mississippi.  By  such  persons  any  link  of  association 
which  brings  them  in  touch  with  these  venerable  forms  is  seized  with  a special 
and  generous  pleasure.  Such  a link  it  has  been  the  privilege  of  many  friends 
to  recognize  in  the  person  of  an  estimable  gentleman,  Dr.  Percy  De  la  Roche,  of 
Philadelphia,  who  for  several  days  past  has  been  a sojourner  in  our  city. 

Dr.  De  la  Roche  is  the  son  of  Dr.  Rene  De  la  Roche,  who,  in  the  early 
part  of  this  century  was  a distinguished  physician  in  Philadelphia.  His  mother 
was  Mary  Ellis,  of  Mississippi,  a daughter  of  John  Ellis  and  granddaughter  of 
Richard  Ellis,  who  in  the  year  1775  emigrated  from  Virginia  to  the  “ Natchez 
District,”  and  established  a plantation,  bordering  on  the  Mississippi  River 
below  the  town  of  Natchez,  and  including  the  landing  which  is  still  called,  after 
him,  “ Ellis’  Cliffs.” 

Miss  Ellis’  mother  was  Miss  Sarah  Percy,  daughter  of  a Captain  Charles 
Percy,  a retired  officer  of  the  British  navy,  who  was  the  proprietor  of  a plan- 
tation in  the  neighborhood  of  Bayou  Sara.  By  her  marriage  with  John  Ellis 
the  families  of  the  Percys  and  the  Ellises  became  united. 

Miss  Mary  Ellis,  issue  of  this  marriage,  while  at  boarding  school  in  Phil- 
adelphia, formed  an  acquaintance  with  Dr.  Rene  De  la  Roche,  which  subse- 
quently led  to  their  marriage,  and  to  her  change  of  residence  from  Mississippi 
to  Philadelphia.  It  is  the  son  of  these  parents  who  is  at  present  our  guest. 

John  Ellis,  his  maternal  grandfather,  took  a prominent  part  in  public 
affairs  in  this  region  during  the  unsettled  times  of  the  closing  period  of  the  last 
century.  His  name  occurs  repeatedly  in  Claiborne’s  ‘‘History  of  Mississippi.” 
In  1785  we  find  it  associated  with  those  of  Bingaman,  Farrar,  Green,  Daven- 
port and  others  (' ‘ all  men,”  says  Claiborne,  11  who  at  any  stage  of  our  history 
would  reflect  honor  on  the  highest  station  ” ) in  the  membership  of  a sort  of 
supervisory  court,  appointed  by  the  Eegislature  of  Georgia  (which  State  then 
claimed  the  ‘‘Natchez  District”  as  a part  of  its  territory)  to  represent  it  in 
several  departments  of  its  sovereignty. 

A son  of  his,  Thomas  George  Ellis,  at  a later  day  became  the  husband  of 
a daughter  of  the  late  Job  Routh,  Mary  Routh  (subsequently  Mrs.  General 
Dahlgren).  Of  this  marriage  was  born  Sarah  A.  Ellis  (afterward  Mrs.  Samuel 
Dorsey),  whose  brilliant  genius  has  placed  her  conspicuously  in  the  galaxy  of 
the  literary  women  of  the  South.  It  is  a pleasing  coincidence  that  Mrs.  Thomas 
D.  Ellis,  of  Philadelphia  (formerly  Miss  Ingraham),  whose  husband  was  a son 
of  Thomas  G.  and  Mary  Ellis,  has  chanced,  after  a long  absence,  to  be  associated 
with  her  kinsman,  Dr.  De  la  Roche,  though  without  concert,  in  this  pilgrimage 
to  the  tombs  of  their  ancestors. 

These  annals  of  the  forefathers  of  our  Commonwealth  are  more  than  inter- 
esting— they  are  valuable.  There  are  scores  of  them  which  ought  to  be 
gathered  and  garnered.  A filial  reverence  for  the  heroic  men  and  women  who 
laid  the  foundations  of  the  fortunes  of  this  country  in  the  past  we,  not  improp- 
erly, call  ‘ ‘ pious  ’ ’ sentiment.  It  is  certainly  an  appeal  and  an  incentive  to 
honorable  effort  on  the  part  of  those  in  whose  hands  are  laid  the  fortunes  of  oui 
country  in  the  future.—  IVm.  A.  Diers,  Editor  Daily  Democrat. 


OLD  AND  NEW  NATCHEZ. 


97 


CflPT.  THOMAS  P.  HEATHERS, 

Among  the  names  held  in  high  esteem  by  the  residents  of  the  Mississippi 
Valley  none  are  more  honored  than  that  which  heads  this  brief  sketch,  and  in 
this  feeling  the  citizens  of  Natchez  fully  participate. 

For  over  sixty  years  he  plied  the  waters  of  the  great  river,  commencing  in 
1836  as  mate  of  the  steamboat  Sunflower,  commanded  by  his  brother,  Capt.  John 
Leathers.  On  his  first  trip  the  shores  were  almost  completely  covered  with  the 
virgin  forest,  and  he  lived  to  see  great  cities  rise  along  its  course,  and  the  region 
washed  by  its  waters  developed  into  a mighty  empire — and  with  all  its  people 
his  name  was  a familiar  household  word. 

Captain  Leathers  was  born  in  Kenton  County,  Ky.,  May  24,  1816,  and 
was  the  fourth  son  of  a family  of  five  boys  and  four  girls.  He  died  in  New 
Orleans  at  2:50  a.  m.,  Saturday,  June  13,  1896,  surrounded  by  a loving  family — 
his  nine  children,  two  grand-children  and  his  loving  wife — who  had  done  all 
that  human  knowledge  could  prompt  to  minister  to  his  wants  during  his 
illness. 

Rugged  in  appearance,  a man  of  iron  constitution  and  indomitable  will,  he 
was  kind  of  heart  and  charitable  to  all.  He  gave  without  ostentation,  and 
thousands  of  his  good  deeds  were  known  only  to  himself  and  the  recipients  of 
his  bounty. 

He  owned  and  commanded  many  river  palaces,  amongst  which  were  seven 
that  carried  the  name  of  Natchez.  The  sixth  of  these  was  built  in  1869,  and 
ran  the  celebrated  race  with  the  Robert  E.  Lee  from  New  Orleans  to  St.  Louis. 

The  two  boats  left  New  Orleans,  Thursday,  June  30,  1870,  at  4:50  p.  m. 
The  Lee  landed  at  the  wharf  in  St.  Louis  in  3 days,  2 hours  and  8 minutes, 
6 hours  and  15  minutes  ahead  of  the  Natchez — New  Orleans  to  St.  Louis,  1,250 
miles.  The  steamer  Natchez  ran  aground  and  was  detained  several  hours  in 
the  race. 


98 


THE  MEMENTO 


A LETTER  TO  A SON. 


Natchez,  Miss.,  November  21,  1888. 

My  Dear  Son  Harry  : 

Your  few  lines  from  Chicago  reached  me  in  due  time  and  found  us  in  reasonably  good  health.  I was 
glad  to  hear  from  you.  Of  course  you  are  anxious  to  get  back  home.  Well,  Harrison,  the  election  is  over — 
"We  have  met  the  enemy,  and  we  are  his.”  After  all,  what  great  difference  does  it  make?  We  are  all 
Americans,  all  proud  of  our  country,  proud  of  her  illustrious  names,  no  matter  on  which  side  of  Mason  and 
Dixon's  line  those  who  bear  them  were  born.  In  the  past  fifty  years  I have  participated  in  two  wars  and 
lived  under  many  Presidents.  To  me  it  is  one  of  the  happiest  and  most  encouraging  reflections  that,  no 
matter  how  bitter  the  contest,  once  it  is  past,  we  accept  the  decision  and  truly  and  loyally  join  with  each 
other  in  sounding  the  praises  of  our  common  country.  It  but  shows  the  wisdom  of  those  grand  old'  patriots, 
those  master  minds,  who  put  together  the  framework  of  our  government  and  planted  the  corner-stone  upon 
the  intelligence,  conservatism,  good  sense,  and  patriotism  of  the  American  people.  Why  should  we  keep  up 
bickering  and  hatred?  Are  we  not  one  common  family,  with  one  common  interest,  and  one  undying  hope — 
the  progress,  glory  and  peace  of  our  common  country?  Take  yourself,  for  instance,  your  grandfather  was 
Nathaniel  Harrison,  a native  of  South  Carolina,  who  immigrated  to  Tennessee,  and  from  thence  to  Natchez, 
who  was  a first  cousin  of  Gen.  William  Henry  Harrison,  celebrated  in  history  as  "Old  Tippecanoe,”  the 
grandfather  of  our  President-elect.  I have  often  heard  your  grandfather  speak  of  his  cousin,  the  old  Gen- 
eral, as  cousin  "Billy,”  as  familiarly  as  you  have  heard  me  speak  of  your  uncle  Billy.  Your  oldest  aunt, 
Henrietta  Harrison,  of  this  city,  also  remembers  these  facts,  and  has  mentioned  them  to  me  since  the  late 
election.  On  the  other  hand,  your  grandmother,  Letitia  Gibson  Harrison,  comes  from  the  earliest  settlers,  of 
this  section,  the  Rev.  Mr.  Gibson  and  his  brothers,  from  whom  also  come  her  nearest  relatives,  among  them 
Gen.  Randall  I..  Gibson,  Senator  from  the  State  of  Louisiana,  and  one  of  the  leading  men  of  the  South,  and 
a typical  American,  in  scholarship,  courage,  honor  and  integrity.  Although  but  one  generation  removed 
from  some  of  the  oldest  families  of  Waterford,  Ireland,  I am  American  born,  and  yield  the  palm  to  none  in 
my  love  for  and  pride  in  America  and  her  institutions.  Naturally,  I have  a tender  feeling  for  the  manly 
and  honorable  race  from  which  I draw  my  blood  and  lineage,  men  who  have  stood  high  for  generations 
amongst  their  fellow-men.  Before  the  war  when  your  uncle,  Levi  Gibson  Harrison,  made  a pleasure  trip  to 
the  "other  side  ” I gave  him  letters  to  my  folks  in  Waterford,  and  he  came  back  delighted  with  the  hos- 
pitality of  the  Powers  he  met  over  there.  I have  never  crossed  the  sea  myself,  but  was  pleased  with  his 
report.  I cannot  say  that  X have  any  desire  to  take  a sea  voyage.  My  own  country  is  large  enough  for  me, 
and,  as  I said  before,  I really  do  not  see  any  great  reason  why  we  should  go  mourning  over  the  result  of  the 
election  ? The  transition  from  one  President  to  another  will  be  easy  enough,  and  scarcely  cause  a ripple  in 
the  general  affairs  of  the  Nation.  Your  mother  is  not  feeling  the  best.  I look  for  her  next  week  with  little 
Rosalie.  The  weather  at  this  time  is  miserable,  and  gives  me  intimation  of  returning  rheumatics,  which  I 
devoutly  hope  to  escape.  With  love  and  kisses,  and  earnest  hopes  for  your  health,  happiness  and  prosperity, 

I am,  Your  affectionate  father. 


To  E-  Harrison  Power,  Chicago,  111. 


STEPHEN  F.  POWER. 


Residence  of  Christian  Schwartz. 


EDW.  H.  POWER,  GENERAL  SALES  AGENT. 

Suit  No.  4-0,  Third  Floor.  Equitable  Building, 


NEW  YORK, 

AND 

Commercial  Building.  ST.  LOUIS. 


MARTIN  K.  MOORE, 

SOUTHERN  SALES  AGENT. 

711  Equitable  Building,  ATLANTA, 


H.  H.  MCDUFFEE, 

NORTHWESTERN  SALES  AGENT, 

1118  Marquette  Building,  CHICAGO. 


INTERCHANGEABLE 


Brake  Beam  Company, 

J.  C.  Stewart,  President.  Chas.  Hoyee,  Secretary. 

F.  B.  Agear,  General  Manager. 

Chas.  E.  Pearce,  Vice-President.  J.  M.  Thompson,  Treasurer. 

MANUFACTURER  OF 


INTERCHANGEABLE  AND  OTHER  TYPES 

OF 


STEEL  BRAKE  BEAMS. 


IOO 


Compression  Member,  or  Back  Strut,  made  from  the  best 
rolled  steel  plate,  and  so  shaped  as  to  obtain  the  most  strength 
per  pound  of  metal.  Heads  are  reversible  and  of  the  best  mal- 
leable iron. 

Our  beams  are  fully  covered  by  U.  S.  Letter  Patent  777,934, 
and  we  assure  the  users  of  same  full  and  complete  protection. 

We  guarantee  our  beams  to  last  the  life  of  the  car. 

This  Beam  will  interchange  with  any  Hollow  or  Tubular 
trussed  Beam  now  in  use,  and  will  more  than  meet,  in  each 
and  every  particular,  all  Master  Car  Builders’  requirements. 


TEST  OF  INTERCHANGEABLE  BRAKE  BEAM 

MADE  BY  ROBERT  W.  HUNT  & CO.  OF  CHICAGO. 


Chicago,  July  3,  1896. 

Interchangeable  Brake  Beam  Co 

Commercial  Building , St  Louis,  Mo. 

Gentlemen  : We  beg  to  report  as  follows  upon  a test  made  on  your 

Brake  Beam.  The  Beam  was  supported  at  each  end  and  the  load  applied 
on  the  brake  lever  pivot : 


Load. 

Reading. 

Deflection. 

500  lbs . . . 

.2218 

.OOOO 

2,000  “ 

■2314 

.0096 

4,000  “ 

.2506 

.0288 

6,000  “ 

.2665 

.0447 

7,500  “ 

.2766 

.0548 

1,000  lbs 

.2238 

.OOOO 

7,5oo  “ 

.2778 

.0540 

9,000  “ . . 

.2905 

.0667 

12,000  “ 

•3138 

.0900 

14,000  “ . • 

•3295 

■1057 

16,000  “ 

•3456 

.1218 

18,000  “ 

.3642 

.1404 

20,000  “ 

.4060 

.1822 

22,000  “ 

•5934 

.3696 

Tie  Rod  elongated.  Brake  Beam  was  not  tested  to  maximum  capacity. 

Respectfully  submitted, 

Robert  W.  Hunt  & Co. 


IOI 


CABLE  ADDRESS  “ SLIGO." 


Long  Distance  Telephone. 


C.  H.  MCKIBBIN  & CO. 

‘IRailwa’e,  Qtcamsbtp  anb  Contractors 
• • • Supplies.  • • • 

Offices:  3d  Floor,  Suite  No.  40,  Equitable  Building, 

120  Broadway,  NEW  YORK. 


General  Sales  A.  gent  s : 

COOKE  LOCOMOTIVE  & MACHINE  CO. 

THE  BUCKEYE  M.  I.  & C.  CO.’s  LITTLE  GIANT  COUPLER. 
ROBERTS,  THROP  & CO.  HAND  AND  PUSH  CARS. 


GENERAL  AGENTS  : 

THE  JOHNSON  COMPANY. 

THE  A.  LESCHEN  & SONS  WIRE  ROPE  CO. 
BUFFALO  SCALE  CO. 


REPRESENTATIVES  : 


J.  A.  Ferguson. 
T.  F.  Dempsey. 


C.  D.  Bailey. 
R.  C.  Fraser. 


102 


C.  M.  Baker. 
M.  K.  Moore. 


THE  NATCHEZ. 

T 1 1 e Best  and  Only 

First-Class  Hotel  in  Natchez. 

Gas,  Electric  Lights,  Steam  Heat,  Hot  and  Cold  Water 
throughout  the  House.  Large,  Light  and  Free  Sample 
Room.  Special  attention  paid  to  Traveling  Men.  Rates 
Reasonable. 

JAS.  G.  SMITH,  -----  Manager. 


IO' 


1*21  Natchez  Democrat 


(DAILY  AND  WEEKLY.) 

OFFICIAL  ORGAN  OF  THE  CITY  AND  COUNTY. 

JAMES  TV.  LAMBERT,  Proprietor. 


SUBSCRIPTION  PRICE: 


Daily,  «fi>6.00  Per  Year,  in  Advance. 

Weekly,  $1.00  Per  Year,  in  Advance. 


Democrat's  Job  Department 


IS  SUPPLIED  WITH 

Everything  Necessary  for  First-Class  Work. 

BILL  HEADS,  CIRCULARS,  POSTERS, 

NOTE  HEADS,  PROGRAMS,  DODGERS, 
LETTER  HEADS,  INVITATIONS,  Etc.,  Etc.,  Etc. 

ORDERS  BY  MAIL  RECEIVE  PROMPT  ATTENTION. 


104 


ESTABLISHED  1865. 


NCORPORATED  1890. 


Rumble  & Wensel  Co, 

Cotton  Factors, 

Wholesale  Grocers  and 

Commission  Merchants. 

No.  lOO  Main  Street, 

NATCHEZ.  MISS. 


CONSIGNMENTS  OF  COTTON  SOLICITED. 

ESTABLISHED  1863. 

HENRY  FRANK, 

MANUFACTURER  AND  JOBBER, 

NEW  YORK.  J*  BOSTON.  * NATCHEZ. 

DRY  GOODS  . . . 

BOOTS,  SHOES,  HATS. 


NEW  STORE,  AND  WAREHOUSE  OPPOSITE. 

WEST  OF 

“THE  NATCHEZ”  HOTEL. 

105 


INSURANCE 


Of  the  Best  Kind, 

In  the  Best  Line  of  Companies, 
in  the  World. 


FIRE  * LIFE  ■*  MARINE  * ACCIDENT. 


j* 


R.  I.  METCALFE, 

. . REPRESENTING  . . 


QUEEN  INSURANCE  CO.  of  America. 
GEORGIA  HOME,  Columbus,  Ga. 
PALATINE  INSURANCE  CO., 

of  Manchester,  England. 
PHOENIX,  of  Hartford. 

UNION  CENTRAL  LIFE  INS 


PENNSYLVANIA  FIRE,  of  Philadelphia.. 
MISSISSIPPI  HOME,  of  Vicksburg,  Miss.. 
UNION  CASUALTY  AND  SURETY  CO., 
of  St.  Louis,  Mo.. 
ANCE  CO.,  of  Cincinnati,  Ohio. 


■J* 


Office  410  Franklin  Street. 


TELEPHONE  118. 


UNDER  “THE  NATCHEZ”  HOTEL,. 


mffltnr:  jf  Ikunllllk  jilJk  nitlfiir.jfiBiirjiillk.jnf'liir 


Instantaneous  Process  Used 
Exclusively.  .•. 


L.  D.  SIMMONS, 


Fine  Portraits  and  Photo- 
graphs in  all  the  Latest 
Styles.  ,\  .•.  .•.  .’. 


| Baby  Pictures  a Specialty.  .■. 

Prices  Very  Reasonable. 

" 

| j All  Work  Guaranteed  to  be  1 ] 
First  Class.  .'.  .-.  .-.  .-. 


Old  Pictures  Copied  and  Fn-  IJ 
larged  to  any  size  desired, 
in  Crayon  and  Pastel,  in  j 
Frames  to  Correspond.  .-. 


II  II  II  i II  II  I II  I II 
I j ^rriprriigiiniigiir  mjjjr  apnrj^jnpoiii jit  1 


THE 

Photographic  Artist, 

No.  325  MAIN  STREET, 


Natchez,  Miss. 


One-half  of  the  Photographs  (Cuts)  in  4t  The  Memento,”' 
were  taken  by  L.  D.  Simmons. 


106 


SPECIAL  ATTENTION 
..  . Paid  to  the  Promotion  of  Rail- 
. . roads  through  the  States  of 
..  . Mississippi,  Louisiana  and 
Arkansas. 


SPECIAL  ATTENTION 
. . Paid  to  the  property  of  non- 
. . residents,  examining  titles, 

. . assessments,  etc. 


Correspondence  Solicited  and  .... 
Prompt  Attention  guaranteed  in  all  cases. 


W.  H.  Shields, 

iRcal  Estate  agent, 

. . . AND  , . . 

AGENT  OF  THE 

Mutual  Life  Insurance  Company 

OF  NEW  YORK. 


....  DEADER  IN  ...  . 

Large  tracts  of  both  Hardwood  and  Softwood  Timber  Lands 
in  the  States  of  Louisiana,  Mississippi  and  Arkansas. 

In  Plantations  in  the  above  named  States. 

In  City  Properties. 


107 


103  North  Pearl  Street, 
Natchez,  Miss. 


New  Orleans  and 


Northwestern 

Railway  Co., 

THE 

Shortest  anb  Quickest  “ILine 

FROM 

North,  East  and  West 

INTO  THE  BEAUTIFUL  CITY  OF 

NATCHEZ,  MISS. 


Connecting  at  Rayville,  La.,  with  the  Queen  & Crescent,  and  at 
Callenston,  La.,  with  the  Gould  System.  Traversing  the  richest  farm 
lands  in  the  South.  Those  desiring  to  locate  in  the  Sunny  South 
and  wishing  to  know  something  of  the  climate  and  country,  can 
Address 

J.  M.  BARKLEY, 

Assistant  General  Passenger  Agent, 

NATCHE2,  MISS. 


108 


The  W.  J.  Hogan  Co. 

COR.  MAIN  AND  PEARL  STS., 

NATCHEZ,  MISS., 


CARRY  AN 

ELEGANT  AND  FULL  ASSORTMENT  OF 


DRY  GOODS, 
^§|^,  MILLINERY, 
MATTINGS, 
RUGS.^==T= 


WE  CHALLENGE  COMPETITION 
IN  THESE  LINES 


Jiatehez  Savings  Bank, 

R,  F.  LEARNED,  GEO.  W.  KOONTZ, 

President.  Vice-President. 

j^atchez,  miss. 

R.  1.  METCAlFE, 

Cashier 

MAURICE  MOSES, 

President . 

Britton  & Koontz 

ABE  MOSES, 

Cashier. 

Bank. 

Authorized  Capital,  $200,000. 
Paid  in  Capital,  $25,000. 

— 

Transacts  a General  Banking  Business. 

NATCHEZ,  MISS. 

109 


BURNS  ” 


The  people’s  popular  cheap  Shoe  House. 
Largest  Sales,  from  St.  Louis  to  New 
Orleans,  at 


414-416  Main  Street, 

NATCHEZ,  MISS. 


BURNS’  SHOE  STORE. 


H.  C.  TURLEY. 


Kentucky 


R.  X,.  PARKER. 


Livery,  Feed  and 


J 


Sale  Stable 


TURLEY  & PARKER, 
Proprietors. 


Main  and  Canal  Streets, 
NATCHEZ,  MISS. 


JOHN  RAWLE, 

Insurance  and  Real  Estate, 

NATCHEZ,  MISS. 

P.  O.  Box  83. 


no' 


JEFFERSON 

MILITARY 

COLLEGE, 

Six  Miles  East  of  Natchez. 


* 

AN  ENGLISH, 

CLASSICAL, 

SCIENTIFIC 

AND 

BUSINESS  INSTITUTION, 

Witt\  Military  aqd  Athletic 
Training. 


TTHREE  complete  courses  of  study,  viz,:  The 
1 Diplorqa  Course,  the  Bachelor  of  Science 
Course,  and  the  Commercial  Course;  there  is; 
also  a first-class  Preparatory  Department.. 
Teachers  trained  in  one  of  the  following  well- 
known  institutions:  Washington  and  Lee  Uni- 
versity, Harvard  Uqiversity,  Universities  of 
Virginia  and  Mississippi,  and  the  Virginia  Mili- 
tary Institute.  Laboratories  well  supplied  with: 
Chemical  and  Philosophical  Apparatus,  a large 
aqd  airy  Gymnasium  and  Drill  Hall,  a fine- 
Library  with  over  3,000  volumes,  an  Armory' 
supplied  with  Springfield  rifles,  etc.,  all  tend  to 
make  this  a first-class  institution  for  boys  and 
young  meq. 


TERMS,  $130  00 

per  session  of  teq  (10)  rqoqths,  including 
board,  tuition,  furnished  roorq,  washing  and 
lights.  For  Catalogues,  address 

J.  S.  RAYMOND, 

WASHINGTON,  MISS. 


The  E.  G.  De  LAP  CO. 


. . . . Insurance  Exclusively 


406  Franklin  Street, 


call  on  or  write  us.  ...  Natchez,  Miss. 


S 


iri 


Freight  delivered  promptly 
to  all  points  on  Ouachita, 
Black,  Little  and  Tensas 
Rivers. 

Cotton  insured  while  in  our 
possession  at  our  risk. 

Cotton  delivered  in  Natchez, 
Miss.,  New  Orleans,  La., 
and  Memphis,  Tenn., 
without  delay. 

Route  open  for  Freight  all 
the  year  ' round. 

Excursion  Parties  handled 
and  Picnic  Grounds  furn- 
ished at  Turtle  Lake. 

Our  own  Express  Company 
connecting  with  Ameri- 
can and  Southern  at 
Natchez,  Miss.,  and  Sou- 
thern at  Vidalia,  La. 

Best  Hunting  and  Fishing 
Grounds  can  be  found  on 
this  Line. 

Bicycles  free  as  baggage. 
(O.  R.) 

Cotton  Seed  handled  to  the 
advantage  of  the  Shipper. 
Write  for  Particu- 
lars. 

Information  furnished 
cheerfully  regarding  tim- 
ber and  farm  lands. 


For  rates  and  particulars,  address 

A.  H.  GARDNER, 

Gen’l  Freight  and  Passenger  Agent, 

VIDALIA,  LA. 


THE.  ONLY 


r reight  Route 

FOR  POINTS  ON 

BLACK, 

LITTLE, 

TENSAS 

AND 

OUACHITA  RIVERS, 
BAYOUS 
CHOCTAW 

AND 

MACON, 


IS  VIA  THE 


Red  River 

and  1 CXctS 


RAILROAD, 

THE  GREAT  ROUTE  FOR  FISHING 
AND  HUNTING  GROUNDS. 


Information  cheerfully  furnished  by 

C.  A.  GARDNER,  A.  H.  GARDNER, 

V.-Pres.  and  Gen’l  Manager,  Gen’l  Frt.  and  Pass.  Agent, 

VIOALIA,  LA. 


1 12 


COLE  & CO 


( Dry  Goods  and  Carpets 
Get  Our  Prices  on  Mattings  and  Window 
( Shades. 


. . . Before  Buying  . . . 


NEW  LINES  OF  TAILOR-MADE  SUITS, 
AND  SEPARABLE  SKIRTS.  NOVELTY 
SHIRT  WAISTS,  PERFECT  FITTING. 


COLE  & CO. 


T.  J.  EISELY.  CHAS.  PAEEOTTA. 

Natchez  Tailoring  Company, 

“THE  NATCHEZ"  HOTEL  BUILDING,  ON  PEARL  ST. 


Complete  Line  of  ...  . 

SUITINGS,  PANTS,  ETC. 

WOOLENS  AND  WORSTEDS. 


Pants  made  to  order  for  $3.50  and  up. 


Suits  made  to  order  for  $13.00  and  up. 


Cleaning,  Pressing  and  Repairing  Neatly  Done. 


Give  us  a Call. 


All  work  guaranteed  as  represented,  or  no  pay  . 


JOHN  HARPER, 


— DEALER  IN — 

China,  Crockery,  Cutlery,  Tin,  Glass, 

Wood  ware. 


. . . Ibouse  jfurntebino  Goobe  . . . 


419  Main  Street, 


NATCHEZ,  MISS. 


CUT  GLASS  A SPECIALTY. 


H.  C.  NORMAN, 

Photographic  Studio, 

NEIHVSEL  BUILDING, 

Main  Street,  NATCHEZ,  MISS. 

(Adjoining  New  Masonic  Temple.). 


First-Class  Work  done  at  reasonable  rates.  Louisianians  are  especially  invited  to  visit 
my  studio. 

Many  of  the  photos,  in  the  Memento  were  taken  by  H.  C.  Norman. 

The  new  two-story  brick,  being  built  next  to  the  Episcopal  Church,  Washington  Street, 
Natchez,  Miss.,  will  be  occupied  July,  1897,  as  an  Art  and  Photograph  Gallery  by  H.  C 
Norman. 


1 14 


A.  BEER. 


SOL.  MYERS. 


A.  Beer  & Company. 


Hay,  Grain, 

Flour,  Meal, 

Meats,  Etc. 


Wholesale 
. . . Grocers. 


NO  GOODS  INSURED  BY  US  UNLESS  INSTRUCTED. 


NATCHEZ,  MISS. 


M.  M.  ULLMAN  & CO., 

. . . Clothiers  . . . 

Hatters  and  Furnishers. 

Nos.  425  and  427  Main  Street, 

NATCHEZ,  MISS. 


Merchant  Tailoring 
a Specialty. 


S.  H.  JOHNSTON,  President. 


L.  F.  BUELL,  Secretary  and  Treasurer. 


Natchez  Piano  and  Furniture  Company, 


— DEALERS  IN  — 


Pianos,  Organs,  Furniture,  Trunks,  Clocks, 
Chromos  and  Fine  Pictures.. 


Agents  for  New  Home,  Standard  and  Domestic 
Sewing  Machines. 

House,  Furnishing  Goods. 


No.  406  Main  Street, 
NATCHEZ,  MISS. 


ESTATE  L.  D.  ALDRICH, 

WHOLESALE  AND  RETAIL  DEALER  IN 

. . . Cutlen? . . . 

China,  Silver  and  Glassware,  Chandeliers,  Bracket  Lamps,  Lamp  Trimmings, 
Oils,  and  House  Furnishing  Goods  Generally. 

No.  417  MAIN  STREET. 


J.  N.  RATLIFF, 

OMNIBUS,  SURREYS,  CARRIAGES 
AND  BAGGAGE  

...TRANSFER  LINE... 

OFFICE: 

COR.  MAIN  AND  PEARL  STREETS, 

HATCHEZ. 

TELEPHONE  69. 

All  Baggage  entrusted  to  our  care,  we  see  to  being  properly  checked. 


If  you  mant  Unquestioned  Security”  in  Fife,  Accident  op  pipe  Instance 

CARE  ON 


Simon  Mayer, 


102  South  Commerce  Street, 

WHO 

New  York  Life  Insurance  Co.  New  York., 

Fidelity  and  Casualty  Co.,  New  York. 

Mississippi  Home  Fire  Ins.  Co.,  Vicksburg. 
Mechanics  & Traders  Fire  Ins.  Co.,  New  Orleans. 
Greenwich  Fire  Ins.  Co.,  New  York. 


NATCHEZ,  MISS. 

REPRESENTS 

Phoenix  Fire  Ins.  Co.,  Hartford,  Conn. 
Manchester  Fire  Assurance  Co.,  England. 
American  Fire  Ins.  Co.,  Philadelphia. 

Insurance  Co.,  of  North  America,  Philadelphia. 
The  Imperial  Insurance  Co.,  London. 


J.  L.  YOUNG.  J.  H KELLOGG, 

J.  L.  YOUNG  & CO., 

Druggists 
anD  Stationers. 


510  MAIN  STREET 


NATCHEZ,  MISS 


Salvo  & Berdon  Candy  Co 


MANUFACTURING 


Confectioners 

. . . and  . . . 

Mineral  Water 
Bottlers  .... 


-0 

*& 

-o 

4 

*& 

*6 

*& 

*& 

4 

-& 

*& 

•6 


3. 

3- 

3. 

3- 

3- 

3- 

3* 

3* 

3. 

3* 

3* 

3* 

3. 

3. 

3* 

H* 


Call  At  our  retail  store  for  package  of  the 
finest  CANDIES  and  CAKES,  also 
try  our  CREAMS,  ICES  and  CHARLOTTE 
RUSSE  SODA,  which  is  unequaled  by  any 
in  the  city.  Wedding  and  party  orders 
solicited. 


Factory  and  Offiee,  110-112  S.  Wall  Street, 


Retail  Store,  506  Main  St.  NATCHEZ,  MISS. 


JOHN  E.  ROUSE, 

—DEALER  IN— 

WINES  AND  LIQUORS. 

Agent  for  tiif _ 


. . . Hnbcuscr^Buecb  Beer  . . . 

Malt  Nutrine.  Budweiser  Bottled  Beer 


Furnished  families  by  the  case  or  dozen. 


JUG  TRADE  A SPECIALTY. 


510  Franklin  Street, 


NATCHEZ,  MISS. 


John  Noonan, 


established  Apml  13, 
1880. 


...The  Leading  Baker 

In  This  Section. 

BREAD,  CAKES  AND  FAMILY  GROCERIES. 

HAVE  IN  STOCK  ONE  TO  THREE  HUN- 
DRED BARRELS  OF  FLOUR.  FAVORITE 
BRANDS.  .-.  .-. 


Store,  Corner  of  Commerce  and  State 
Streets, 


NATCHEZ,  MISS. 


The  Public  are  respectfully  invited  to  call. 

JOHN  NOONAN. 


Eugene  M.  Clarke, 

Proprietor. 


C.  H.  Crowell, 

Manager. 


Excelsior  Steam  Laundry, 

No.  3o4  STATE  STREET, 

NATCHEZ,  MISS. 


First-Class  Work  Done  on  Short  Notice- 

Orders  sent  by  Mail  or  Express 

will  receive  Prompt  and  Careful  Attention. 


ALL  WORK  GUARANTEED. 


I.  N.  MOSES, 


WHOLESALE  AND  RETAIL 
....  DEALER  IN  .... 


Positively  No  Claims  Allowed 

for  goods  damaged  while  in 
transit.  Our  responsibility 
ceases  when  railroad  or 
boat  receipts  for  goods. 

All  Claims  for  Errors,  Etc., 

must  be  made  immediately 
on  receipt  of  goods. 

For  Comparison, 

on  first  of  each  month,  we 
send  to  each  customer  a 
statement  of  account,  as  it 
appears  on  our  ledger.  If 
due, 

PLEASE  REMIT. 


TERMS:  NET  CASH. 


Wagons,  Surreys,  Carts, 
Carriages,  Buggies, 
Whips,  Etc. 

Single  and  Double  Harness, 
all  kinds  Saddlery, 
Furniture,  Etc. 

122,  124  and  126  fl.  Commerce  St. 

and  405-407  Franklin  St. 


P.  W.  MULVIHILL, 

—DEALER  IN— 

Hardware,  House  Furnishing  Goods, 

PUMPS,  STOVES, 

STEAM  AND  GAS  FITTINGS, 

Builders’  /iDatertals, 

Doors,  Sash  and  Blinds. 


.gggTTn  connection  with  my  business  the  Largest  Tin  Shop  in  the  City. 


P.  U.  BENJAMIN, 

THE  LEADING  WHOLESALE  AND  RETAIL  DEALER  IN 

Fine  Wines,  Liquors,  Flasks,  Corks, 

PLAYING  CARDS  AND  BAR  FIXTURES. 


toole  agent  tor  tbe  maorU)=1Reno\vneD 

PABST  niLWAUKEE  BEER. 


Special  Attention  Given  to  Orders  from  Prohibition  Places. 


PRICES  FURNISHED  ON  APPLICATION. 


1 1 2- 1 14  South  Commerce  Street, 

. . . 1Ratcbe3,  fUMss. 


M.  G.  DUCROW, 


‘‘©be  ©lb  UMar  artist” 
still  lives. 


502  MAIN  STREET 


WALL  PAPER, 
PAINTS, 
VARNISHES, 
GLASS, 

Portraits, 

Fresco  and  Church  Decorating, 

ART  MATERIALS, 

PICTURES 

Ornamental  Painting 

and 

PICTURE  FRAMES, 

IN  ALL  ITS  BRANCHES. 

MOULDINGS, 
And  everything  kept 

by  first=class  dealers 

in  my  line. 

NATCHEZ,  MISS. 

Many  of  the  sketches  published  by  the  Pictorial  Press  of  America  and  Europe,  during 
the  Civil  War,  were  from  the  pencil  of  Ducrow  ; and  he  painted  in  Natchez  a complete  History 
of  the  Great  Conflict,  a series  of  86  Pictures  10  x 18  feet  in  size. 


120 


r 


Jos.  Reale, 


DEALER  IN 


GROCERIES, 


t 

# 


Wines  and  Liquors, 
Cigars  and  Tobacco. 


AGENT  FOR 


LEMP’S  LAGER  BEER. 


607  and  601)  Franklin  Street, 
NATCHEZ,  MISS. 


1 21 


R.  Lee  Byrnes. 


A.  M.  Feltus. 


BYRNES  & FELTUS, 

WHOLESALE 

Druggists  “d  Manufacturing  Chemists 

Corner  Main  and  Commerce  Streets, 

— PROPRIETORS  OF  — 

MULL-A-SEPTIC,  HEALER.  EL0US 

TCITAZICE)  TTTir^  IT  the  greatest  chill 

FE  V uKr  U VgrlA,  AND  FEVER  CURE. 

NATCHEZ,  MISS. 


N.  A.  BEHRENS 


WHOLESALE  and  retail  DEALER 


No.  529 
MAIN 
STREET, 


Natchez,  Miss. 


IN  FOREIGN  AND  DOMESTIC 

Fruits  . . . 


TEMPLE  OPERA  HOUSE  BUILDING. 


Bananas , Lemons , Oranges , 
Cocoanuts  and  California  Fruits 
a Specialty. 

Also  Oysters  in  Season. 

Correspondence  Solicited. 


Gulf-Fish, 

Oysters. 


122 


STOCKMAN  GROCERY  CO., 

120  N.  Commerce  Street,  NATCHEZ,  MISS. 

....  DEALERS  IN  ...  . 

Fancy  and  Staple  Groceries 

Consignments  of  Country  Produce  Solicited. 

GOODS  DELIVERED  FREE. 

FLORENCE  MACK.  THOS.  J.  HOLMES. 

MACK  & HOLMES, 

Tin  and  Sheet  Iron  Workers. 

JOBS  EXECUTED  PROHPTLY. 

No.  114  N.  Commerce  Street,  NATCHEZ,  MISS. 

* = = THE  NEW  AND  FAST  - = - 

Natchez  and  Bayou  Sara 

U.  S.  MAIL  PACKET 

Liberty  Prince 

Leaves  Natchez  Tuesday,  Thursday  and  Saturday,  at  12  m. 
Leaves  Bayou  Sara  Wednesday,  Friday  and  Sunday,  4 A.M. 


THOS.  PRINCE,  Master. 


CHAS.  PFAFFENBACH,  Clerk. 


Sim.  H.  Lowenburg. 
E.  Samuels. 


I.  LOWENBURG  & CO., 

...Wholesale  Grocers... 


Hay,  Grain,  Flour,  Meal,  Etc. 


COTTON  FACTORS.  CIGARS  AND  TOBACCO. 


AGENTS  FOR 

CELEBRATED  EAGLE  GIN  STAND. 


. . . Natchez,  Miss. 


L.  Kastors  Harness, 
hitch  up— ^ 


BUT  BEFORE  YOU  DO  THAT  COME  'ROUND 
AND  BUY  A NEW  SET  OF 


Whips, 

Lashes, 

Collars, 

Currycombs, 

Brushes, 

Bridles, 

Halters, 

Blankets, 

Nets, 

Lap  Robes, 
Harness  Oils, 
Hardware, 
Etc. 


r* 

K- 

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la* 

3* 

3* 

K- 

8* 

3- 

3- 

3* 

K-* 

h*. 

K-* 

3* 

3* 

m* 

K- 

3* 

!$«• 


...HAND-MADE  HARNESS. 


I keep  a full  line  of  everything  in  the  Harness 
and  Saddlery  Line,  and  have  the  best  stock  of 
goods  ever  brought  to  this  city.  I use  nothing 
but  best  leather.  Repairing  promptly  done. 


HARNESS  MADE  TO  ORDER. 


KASTOR. 

529  Franklin  Street, 

NATCHEZ,  HISS. 


1837=  1897. 

LOUIS  A.  FITZPATRICK, 

Gun  Maker  and  Locksmith, 

— «• AMMUNITION  AND  SPORTING  GOODS.*— 

No.  52 1 MAIN  STREET.  NATCHEZ,  MISS. 


124 


7 


SUCCESSOR  TO 

H.  C.  TURLEY  AND  R.  L.  PARKER, 


Kentucky 

Livery,  Feed  and  Sale 
Stables. 


. . . Corner  Main  and  Canal  Streets, 
NATCHEZ,  MISS. 


FINEST  TURNOUTS  IN  THE  CITY. 
SINGLE  OR  DOUBLE  TEAMS  v v 
BEST  SADDLE  HORSES  v v v 


SPECIAL 


DO  YOU  RIDE  ? If  so  you  can  be  suited  with  a nice  saddle  horse  or  as  fine  a 
rig  as  you  ever  saw,  by  the  undersigned,  who  has  some  of  the 
finest  saddle  and  driving  horses  in  the  South  for  sale  or  hire,  at 
prices  that  are  sure  to  suit. 

E.  A.  BROWN, 

Turley  & Parker' s Old.  Stand. 


125 


baker  & McDowell, 


Hardware^ 


Farming  Implements, 

Natchez,  Miss. 


AGENCY 

Pratt  Gins,  Charter  Oak  Stoves, 

Deering  and  Buckeye  Mowers. 


Jonas  Marx.  Monroe  Scharff. 

MARX  & SCHARFF, 


"Mbolesale 

Liquors,  Tobacco  and  Cigars, 


Natchez,  Miss. 


SOLE  AGENTS  FOR  THE 

Celebrated  Acme  Saloon  Private  Stock 
WHISKEY. 


A.  G.  Campbell,  President. 


Louis  Botto,  Vice  President. 


R.  LEE  Wood,  Cashier. 


CAPITAL,  $ 100,000 . 


THB 

First  Natchez  Bank 

OF  NATCHEZ,  MISS. 

SPECIAL  COLLECTION  DEPARTMENT. 


DIRECTORS: 

A.  G.  Campbell.  Louis  Botto.  H.  L.  Baker.  Henry  Frank.  W.  P.  Stewart. 


JAMES  A.  GRILLO, 
..IRewsbealet'.. 

Subscriptions  taken  for  all  American  and  Foreign  Newspapers 
and  Magazines. 

409  Main  Street.  NATCHEZ,  MISS. 


A.  ZURHELLEN 

. . DEALER  IN  . . 

Diamonds,  Fine  Jewelry,  Watches, 

SPECTACLES. 

404  MAIN  STREET,  NATCH  RZ,  MISS. 


127 


BAKER  & JAMES 


507  and  509  Franklin  Street, 


. . . NATCHEZ,  MISS 


WHOLESALE  AND  RETAIL  DEALERS  IN 

Hardware  and  Agricultural  Implements. 

Tinware,  Cutlery,  Guns,  Ammunition,  Wood 
and  Willow  Ware 


CROCKERY  AND  CHINA  A SPECIALTY. 


Agents  for  Superior  Stoves  and  Ranges.  The  Best  on  the  Market. 


A.  Beer.  S.  Myers.  M.  Beer. 

Beer,  Myers  & Co. 


Sole 

Agents  for 
the  Celebrated 


—WHOLESALE— 

...LIQUORS, 

TOBACCO 

CIGARS. 


PURITAN  RYE  WHISKY. 


517  Franklin  Street, 


NATCHEZ,  MISS. 


128 


WM.  T.  MARTIN. 


K.  PALMER  LANNEAU. 


Law  Office  of 

MARTIN  & LANNEAU, 

Natchez,  Miss. 

RICHARD  E.  CONNER,  Sr., 

Attorney  at  Law, 


NATCHEZ,  - - MISS. 


A.  H.  GEISENBERGER, 


Attorney  at  Law, 


105  S.  Pearl  Street. 


NATCHEZ,  MISS. 


ERNEST  E.  BROWN, 

Attorney  at  Law, 
NATCHEZ,  - - MISS. 


129 


I.  W.  BERNHEIM. 


B.  BERNHEIM. 


Gold  Medals  Awarded  New  Orleans,  1885:  World's  Fair,  Chicago,  1893 

BERNHEIM  BROTHERS, 

, . Distillers  an6  UQlbolesale  Dealers  in  . . . 

Fine  Kentucky  Bourbon  and  Rye  Whiskies, 

Louisville,  Ky. 


HIGH  WATER  RECORD  AT  NATCHEZ,  MISS. 

DATES  FOR  TWENTY-FOUR  YEARS — 1872  TO  1896. 

[The  Daily  Democrat , Natchez.] 

As  a matter  of  information,  and  for  purposes  of  comparison,  we  give  below 
the  flood  heights  for  all  the  years  since  and  including  1872,  together  with  the 
dates  on  which  the  waters  reached  their  highest  points. 


1872 —  May  5 39.1 

1873 —  May  30 - 40.2 

1874—  April  20-  _ 45.7 

1875 —  April  26 41. 1 

1876 —  May  15  43.9 

1877 —  May  31 40.9 

1878—  March  28-  39,2 

1879 —  February  17 36.1 

18S0 — April  16 - 43.6 

1881 —  April  19 40.9 

1882 —  March  28 47.9 

1883 —  April  7 44.0 

1884 —  March  25 47.5 


1885 —  February  3 42.7 

1886 —  May  ip 

1887 —  March  3 

1888 —  April  2" 


43-9 
- 44-2 
- - - 43-4 

1889 —  March  13 . _____  34.2 

1890 —  April  24 ._  . 48.6 

1891 —  April  12 46.5 

1892 —  June  22 48.5 

1893—  May  23 46.8 

1894 —  April  4 40.6 

1895—  April  4 . ____  31.5 

1896—  April  23  _ 38.4 


It  will  be  seen  from  the  above  that  we  have  reached  the  flood  stage  at  this 
point  for  the  past  twenty-three  years,  twice  during  the  month  of  February,  five 
times  in  March,  nine  times  in  April,  six  times  in  May,  and  only  once  during 
the  month  of  June. 

OF  INTEREST  AT  THE  MOMENT. 

[New  Orleans  Times-Democrat.~\ 


We  take  from  a memorandum  kindly  furnished  by  Mr.  A.  A.  Perrilliat, 
Assistant  State  Engineer,  the  following  figures  of  the  highest  gauge  reading, 
compiled  under  the  direction  of  the  Board  of  State  Engineers  in  March,  1897, 
from  data  taken  from  publications  of  Mississippi  River  Commission. 


Rivers  and  gauge.  Highest  since  1S71. 

Ohio,  Tennessee  and  Cumberland — 


Pittsburg _ 

31. oS, 

1884 

Cincinnati..  _ _ 

. 71.06, 

1884 

Louisville 

46.60, 

1884 

Nashville  _ _ 

55-30, 

1882 

Chattanooga 

54.00, 

1S75 

Missouri — 

Omaha 

__  __  23.06, 

1881 

Kansas  City 

24.09, 

1892 

Arkansas — 

Fort  Smith  _ _ 

, 

— 

Little  Rock  _ _ 

33o6, 

1893 

Red  River — 

Fulton  __  

35-75) 

1876 

Shreveport 

35.70, 

1892 

Alexandria  _ 

— . 38.25, 

1892 

Rivers  and  gauge.  Highest  since  1871, 

Mississippi — 

St.  Louis 36.00,  1892 

Cairo  52-17,  1883 

Memphis 35-6o,  1890 

Helena 48.10,,  1886 

Arkansas  City 50.30,  1893 

Vicksburg 49-05,  1890 

Natchez . ._  48.60,  1890 

Red  River  Landing 48.87,  1892 

Bayou  Sara 42.25,  1892 

Baton  Rouge  38.45,  ’92-3 

Plaquemine 33.80,  1893 

Donaldson ville 30.60,  1893 

Carrollton 17.45,  1893 

New  Orleans 17.90,  1893 


